Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

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What is the difference between imagery and symbolism?

Imagery describes while symbolism depicts a meaning.
Symbolism uses figures of speech while imagery does not.
Imagery is a metaphor while symbolism is a simile.
Symbolism uses abstract words while imagery uses concrete words.

The correct answer is: Imagery describes while symbolism depicts a meaning.

Imagery and symbolism are two literary techniques commonly used in writing. While both involve the use of images and symbols, the key difference lies in their purpose and function within a text. Imagery is used to provide vivid and sensory descriptions, often appealing to the reader's senses of sight, sound, and touch. On the other hand, symbolism is used to convey a deeper and more abstract meaning beyond the literal interpretation of the words. Therefore, option A is the correct answer as it accurately defines the difference between the two techniques. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the difference between imagery and symbolism, and instead, mix up the characteristics of the two. For example, option D mentions that symbolism uses abstract words, but this is not always the case as concrete symbols can also carry deeper meanings. Hence, option D is not a suitable definition of symbolism and is