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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1 |
What is the term for a physical object in a story line that symbolizes who has the control or power? An example would be the chess piece that went back and forth between the two main characters in the movie Count of Monte Cristo.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
Merlor, I regret that I do not have the answer to your question. I just wanted to say "Hi and welcome to the board." Now you have me wondering and that's a good thing . I'm sure someone will be along shortly with the answer.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
I would say that in life, a "token" satisfies your definition. From http://onlinedictionary.datasegment.com/word/token: In reply to:
Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign of authenticity, of power, good faith, etc. Say, by this token, I desire his company. --Shak.
As far as creative writing, if there is a special term for using a token in the plot, I don't know.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
Don't think I've got any exact answer either, but a diadem is a sign of (royal) power, or a crown worn to show that power. One can also be 'diademed', as funny as that may sound. An emblem of power is perhaps a more straight forward way of putting things though.
BTW, welcome.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Oh yes, merlor, welcome to our board. Even though you are a stranger please don't be one for long. Tell us a little of yourself, or like the Count of Montecristo, do you have a secret identity?
I have a funny (at my expense) anecdote regarding "The Count of Montecristo." When I was a freshman in college I took a theatre class that was taught by a gay man in his 50s. One day in making a reference to that novel, I misspoke and called it "The Count of Monte Crisco." Everyone in the class snickered at my malapropism (or was it a spoonerism?), but the professor didn't crack a smile as he said "Well Alex, it's actually the Count of Montecristo, but Monte Crisco sure does sound interesting." There were peals of laughter and I was teased about it rather mercilessly for the entire semester.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
could it be a talisman? From the arabic, tilasm, a magic figure--
a talisman could be something as simple as rabbits foot, (not to lucky for the rabbit is it)
or a sceptor?(ooh, that's an old one.. from the IE root of (s)kep*--> meaning shaft) a rod or shaft that is a symbol of sovereighty-- classicly, of course, the pen is a mightier sceptor than the sword
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Alex: sounds like your gay prof liked his friends to have fat in the can.
A search for "symbols of temporal power" yielded many sites. Crown jewels, sceptre, and crown.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Restraint. That's an abstract symbol of power.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477 |
chess piece
Or like the Ring in Fellowship of the Ring. These friends of mine have come up with some fine answers already, to which I can't add (right now). Funny, this is one of those that is kind of on the tip of my tongue... Anyway, I just thought I would pop in and say:
WELCOME Merlor! Great question...
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
Or the conch in Lord of the Flies. The word may have come up when we discussed that book, but since I hated that teacher, I probably purposely forgot everything she taught us. Including such a potentially useful word.
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