Growing up isn’t all birthdays and milestones – in writing, it’s often marked by symbols. A broken object, a long journey, a switch in clothes. When it comes to YA and coming-of-age stories, these details hold an emotional weight beyond their surface meaning. They suggest transformation. Innocence lost, Identity formed, and the subtle, irreversible shifts that come from turning from a child into something far more complicated.
A coming-of-age story chronicles characters as they grow morally and emotionally; however, that growth rarely happens in neat, obvious ways. Rather, writers use symbolism to make inner changes visible to readers. A broken necklace, a first kiss, a slammed door – these moments fill in for something grander. They help the audience feel the transition, rather than simply observe it.
Today at What We Writing, we’re delving into effective coming-of-age symbols in writing, exploring literary examples, and considering how you can use symbolism effectively in your own stories.
What Is A Coming Of Age Story?
A coming-of-age story is a narrative that centres around a young protagonist as they transition from innocence to experience. Sometimes referred to as Bildungsroman (a German-originating term meaning “novel of formation”), these types of stories typically focus less on an external plot and put more emphasis on internal transformations. The core of the genre stems from emotional and psychological maturity.
The majority of coming-of-age stories share a few central similarities. First, there is a loss of innocence – a moment when the character discovers that the world is more complex, unfair, or painful than they first believed.
Alongside this comes identity formation, as the protagonist begins grappling with who they are and who they want to become.
A lot of coming-of-age books will also feature a moral awakening, where the character must confront difficult truths or make decisions that define their values.
Finally, there is typically a first true confrontation with adult reality – whether that’s through injustice, heartbreak, betrayal, or responsibility.
Classic examples of coming-of-age stories include the likes of The Catcher in the Rye and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, each of them exploring growth in profoundly personal ways.
Why Symbols Matter In Coming-Of-Age Narratives
Coming-of-age stories are built around internal changes – shifts in identity, beliefs, and emotional awareness that aren’t always the easiest to dramatise on the surface. This is where symbolism becomes vital. Symbols externalise what’s happening within a character. Rather than telling readers that someone has grown up, a writer might show transformation through a recurring object, setting, or gesture that changes with the character.
An object that has been treasured since they were a small child might break or be thrown away. A familiar place could begin to feel small and claustrophobic. Clothing, seasons, animals, or journeys could all come to represent innocence, fear, freedom, or self-discovery. These symbolic elements allow growth to unfold visually and emotionally, rather than just being described.
More importantly, symbolism creates resonance. When a motif reappears as key beats, it ties the narrative together and heightens its themes. Readers start to associate that object or image with a character’s inner journey.
Rather than just commenting that a character has matured, they feel the weight of change. The symbol carries memory, contrast, and emotional consequences – making the transition from youth to adulthood both tangible and powerful.
10 Common Coming-Of-Age Symbols In Writing
1. Loss of Innocence (Broken Objects)
There’s very little in this world as direct – or as devastating – as something that breaks. In coming-of-age stories, broken glasses, shattered toys, or ripped clothing are typically used to symbolise the end of childhood safety. These objects once represented protection or simplicity; when they become damaged, the character’s whole worldview is snapped too. The physical break mirrors an emotional one.
In Lord of the Flies, Piggy’s glasses symbolise reason, order, and the fragile structure of civilisation. When they are cracked and later destroyed, it marks a turning point: innocence turns to brutality. The destruction of the object reflects the boys’ irreparable loss of moral grounding – a stark reminder that growing up can involve painful disillusionment.
2. Clothing & Physical Appearances
Clothing is a great way of showing identity, particularly in stories about adolescence. A first “adult” outfit, cutting or dyeing hair, or removing a school uniform can all symbolise a shift in self-perception. Outward appearances become a visible marker of internal change.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout opts for overalls rather than dresses. Here, this reflects her resistance to traditional conventions around femininity. As she grows up, clothing becomes a quiet battleground between childhood freedom and social conformity.
Changes in dress don’t just suggest ageing – they reveal tensions between who a character has been, and who the world expects them to become.
3. Journeys & Physical Travel
Physical movement typically mirrors emotional development. Road trips, relocating to new spaces, or crossing a literal border (such as a city line or a river) can symbolise the crossing from innocence into experience. The journey structure allows readers to track growth step by step.
In The Outsiders, Ponyboy’s physical displacement forces him to confront violence, loyalty, and loss. The movement away from home takes away familiar comforts and hastens his maturity. By the time he comes back, he’s no longer the same person. Here, the journey becomes both a literal escape and a metaphor for the irreversible process of growing up.
4. Nature & Seasons
Nature frequently mirrors emotional states in coming-of-age tales. Spring typically reflects youth and possibility, whereas winter suggests loss or emotional isolation. Storms can point to upheaval, and forests might represent confusion or transformation – spaces where characters both lose and find themselves.
In The Great Gatsby, the green light across the water symbolises longing and aspiration. Whilst Gatsby is an adult, the symbol does still capture a coming-of-age theme: the painful discovery that dreams don’t always survive reality. Natural imagery grounds emotional growth in something tangible, reinforcing the tension between hope and disillusionment.
5. First Love (and First Heartbreak)
First love typically marks the start of emotional self-awareness. It’s never normally just about the romance either; it’s about identity, vulnerability, and learning how deeply you can feel. First heartbreak is a great way of showing the end of naivety.
In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie’s relationships are intertwined with his sense of belonging and self-worth. His romantic experiences make him wrestle with desire, insecurity, and trauma. Through love and loss, he starts to understand himself more clearly. The emotional intensity of first love serves as a catalyst for growth, making the abstract process of maturing feel immediate and personal.
6. Mirrors & Reflections
Mirrors have become the go-to GOAT symbols of self-recognition. In coming-of-age stories, a character looking at their reflection usually signals a shift in self-perception and identity questioning. The image staring back at them might feel unfamiliar – a visual reminder that change has happened.
Reflections also highlight fragmentation. A character might not recognise who they are becoming, or they might struggle between their childhood identity and emerging adulthood. The mirror becomes a moment of pause, forcing a grappling with oneself. Instead of announcing growth outright, the image allows the audience to sense the internal shift through subtle observations and discomfort.
7. Death or Funeral Scenes
A first encounter with death frequently marks a character’s entry into adulthood. Morality strips away illusions of permanence and safety, confronting young protagonists with the fragility of life. Funeral scenes often serve as emotional thresholds.
In Bridge to Terabithia, tragedy forces Jess to confront grief in a way that permanently changes the way he sees the world. The loss completely redefines his imagination and emotional resilience. Death in coming-of-age stories isn’t just about sorrow; it’s about the painful awareness that childhood cannot shield someone from reality forever.
8. Crossing Water (Rivers, Oceans, Rain)
Water is typically used by writers to symbolise transition and rebirth. Crossing a river can represent leaving one phase of life behind, whereas rain might signal a cleansing or emotional release. Water imagery captures the fluidity of identity during adolescence.
Because water changes form – calm, turbulent, reflective – it matches the instabilities of growing up. When a character moves through water or is caught in a storm, the moment usually collides with internal upheaval. Emerging on the other side suggests a transformation, even if that transformation isn’t easy.
9. Houses & Rooms
Homes in coming-of-age books symbolise security, limitation, or a blend of both. A childhood bedroom might represent safety and nostalgia, while stepping beyond the front door signals independence. Doors and thresholds are particularly potent symbols of transition.
As protagonists mature, familiar spaces can start to feel smaller or restrictive. Leaving home – whether physically or emotionally – marks a separation from childhood identity. Even returning to the same house later can highlight growth, as the character perceives it differently. The setting itself becomes a measure of change.
10. Animals
Animals can embody an aspect of innocence or instinct. A gentle creature can symbolise purity, whereas a rabid one can personify emotion or rebellion. Caged animals especially represent restriction or suppressed identity.
To use To Kill a Mockingbird again, the mockingbird symbolises innocence harmed by cruelty. The image reinforces the moral awakening central to the story’s coming-of-age arc. By attaching growth to a living symbol, writers make abstract themes – justice, empathy, loss – feel immediate and emotionally resonant.
How To Use Coming-Of-Age Symbols In Your Own Writing
When using coming-of-age symbols in your own works, the key is evolution. A symbol shouldn’t mean the exact same thing at the start of the story as it does at the end. Rather, let it grow alongside your character. A bike could be introduced as a symbol of freedom and independence – but later, gathering dust in the garage, could become something the character has outgrown.
Tie your symbols to your character choices rather than random descriptions. If an object appears at key emotional moments, it will naturally gather meaning. For example, a necklace given in childhood may feel comforting initially. Midway through the narrative, the character might remove it during a moment of rebellion. Come the climax of the story, choosing whether to wear it again becomes a symbol of self-acceptance and identity.
Avoid heavy-handed symbols. You don’t need to explain what an object represents – your audience will sense its importance through repetition and context. Allow the symbol to emerge organically through plot and action.
Finally, consider reinforcing it during the climax. When a recurring image returns at a decisive moment, it creates an emotional payoff and reinforces the character’s transformation without ever stating it outright.
Wrap Up
Growing up is hardly ever a neat experience. It’s messy, painful, confusing – and, ultimately, transformative. That’s why coming-of-age stories resonate so deeply. They capture the fragile space between who a character was and who they are becoming. Symbols help readers track that transformation. They lend shape to internal shifts that might otherwise feel invisible, grounding growth in objects, settings, and moments that we can see and feel.
The most powerful coming-of-age symbols don’t feel forced or overly explained. They feel inevitable – woven so tightly into the story that their meanings unfold without needing an announcement. The moment a character realises they can’t go back – that’s where symbolism often does its quiet, devastating work.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Write An Emotional Coming Of Age Story
James has been passionate about storytelling ever since he could hold a pen. Inspired by the epic fantasy and historical dramas he devoured in his youth, his work now centers on dark, psychological tales featuring intense, introspective characters and atmospheric, gothic undertones. In 2025, he founded What We Writing to share his creative journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way with fellow writers and passionate storytellers.
