A literary symbol can be a person, place or thing within a story that has suggested meanings beyond its literal meaning. Writers may use an object, such as a clock, to symbolize the passing of time for a character or use the sun to symbolize life. In the short story, "Barn Burning", William Faulkner uses several different tangible objects as symbols to contribute to the story's meaning. .
The first symbol to be discussed from "Barn Burning", are the fires that the father, Abner Snopes, makes. He uses an extremely small fire, just large enough for cooking and light in the evening but at the same time, the father uses a massive fire to set a barn ablaze. Faulkner comments that the fire has somehow become a part of the father and that it was as a weapon that should be used with discretion and respect. The small fires were used by the father during is time in the Civil War as a way of having just enough fire for camp and still avoid detection from the Confederate or Union troops that may bee looking for him. Thus the father has learned to only use the amount of fire needed to accomplish what he needed it for.
The de Spain mansion is another important symbol in this story. As Sarty sees the house for the first time, he describes how the terror and despair that he feels for his father disappear and do not immediately come back. He also feels that the people who live in the house are safe from the father. Sarty remarks "Hit's as big as a courthouse" and it seems that he equates the house for the safety of a court of law or a sheriff. Thus the mansion symbolizes an untouchable safe place from Sarty's father.
Another symbol is an expensive white carpet inside the de Spain house. As Sarty accompanies his father to the de Spain mansion, the father purposely steps in fresh horse droppings and once they arrive at the house, the father smears the dropping on he white carpet. The carpet symbolizes the de Spain's wealth and standing in the community and by smearing the horse droppings on he carpet, the father is making the statement of what he thinks of their wealth.
