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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Apr 2002
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
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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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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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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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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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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Restraint. That's an abstract symbol of power.
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addict
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addict
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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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old hand
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old hand
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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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member
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member
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How about motif, totem, or indeed simply symbol?
alexis
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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The policeman's badge, the military officer's insignia of rank.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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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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addict
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addict
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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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