#68009
04/29/2002 8:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1
stranger
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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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#68010
04/29/2002 9:15 PM
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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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#68011
04/29/2002 9:38 PM
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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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#68012
04/29/2002 9:45 PM
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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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#68013
04/29/2002 9:45 PM
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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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#68014
04/29/2002 9:54 PM
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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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#68015
04/29/2002 9:57 PM
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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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#68016
04/29/2002 10:30 PM
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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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#68017
04/30/2002 12:45 AM
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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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#68018
04/30/2002 11:23 AM
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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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#68019
04/30/2002 11:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 148
member
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member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 148 |
How about motif, totem, or indeed simply symbol?
alexis
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#68020
04/30/2002 1:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
The policeman's badge, the military officer's insignia of rank.
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#68021
04/30/2002 1:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
Welcome, merlor! You might be thinking of the fasces, the bundle of rods with an embedded axe, that the Romans would carry at the head of a parade. It has been a symbol of power and authority, appearing on coins and flags down through the ages, including the liberty-head dime. More about it here: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/fasces.html#usa
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#68022
04/30/2002 11:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 477 |
Hi Alexis, WELCOME to the Board! Especially since you're an Aussie -- Yee hah! Yippee - another-ee! Glad to have you with us.
Totem is a good word, although I guess it depends on your definition. This from the Cambridge International English Dictionary:
totem
noun [C]
an object which is respected by a group of people, esp. for religious reasons
Television is sometimes seen as a totem of modern society.
totem pole
A totem pole is a tall wooden pole with symbols cut or painted on it, which is part of the tradition of the Native Americans of the west coast of Canada and the northern USA.
If I was to use totem I would probably use it with a broader definition than in the religious sense, so I think your suggestion is a good one!
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