Madhurima Class 9 Chapter 3, Symbols and Metaphors on Stage, shows how a play says things without words. It opens with an activity: look at a stage set before the performance and say what you understand from it alone.
What Madhurima Chapter 3 Covers
Symbol and metaphor: a symbol is an object, colour, sound or movement that stands for something deeper: a single lamp for hope, a closed door for fear or opportunity, red light for passion. A metaphor on stage shows one thing as another so the audience reads the meaning themselves.
Colour and music: colour has the strongest effect on the viewer, whether in lights, costumes, set or make-up. Music changes how a character is read: a hissing sound as someone enters marks them as dangerous, a soothing flute does the opposite. The chapter quotes Nāṭyaśhāstra Ch. 17, which pairs svaras with rasas (madhyama and pañchama for the comic and love sentiments, gāndhāra and niṣhāda for karuṇa).
Costumes and make-up: heavy rich fabric suggests royalty, plain cotton humility, flowing cloth a dream-like quality. Wrinkles and grey shading show age and burden; bright smooth make-up shows youth.
Sets and props: a broken mirror for inner conflict, a key for freedom or secrets, an empty chair for loss. A prop that keeps coming back becomes a motif. A huge empty stage can mean loneliness; a cluttered one, chaos; higher platforms, authority.
Light and shadow: bright light means clarity, dim light suspense, a sudden blackout shock. Footlight suggests the supernatural, backlight mystery, front light honesty. Long shadows show fear and loneliness; soft shadows, memory.
Exercises in Chapter 3
- Read a stage picture: list what each object represents and the overall meaning.
- Show a person growing wiser over ten years using only costume, light, props and music, with no dialogue.
- Match a friend to each colour and explain why.
- Explain why symbolism and metaphors are used on stage.
Read Madhurima Class 9 Chapter 3 Online
More Chapters
- Previous: Chapter 2: The Stage Is Yours
- Next: Chapter 4: Creativity in Light and Sound
- All Art chapters and the other Class 9 books: Class 9 NCERT books 2026-27
FAQ
What is symbolism in theatre?
When an object, action, colour, sound or movement on stage stands for something deeper than its literal meaning, for example a lamp for hope or an empty chair for loss.
How does lighting create symbolism?
Through intensity (bright for clarity, dim for suspense), direction (footlight for the supernatural, backlight for mystery) and shadows (long shadows for fear, soft shadows for memory).