SYMBOLISM OF BIRDS

 

In Mrs Dalloway, V. Woolf refers to some birds.

In particular, in the beginning of the novel, the lark is present. Since it is used in powerful expressions approaching to poetry (What a lark!), it is an element to convey a moment of being.

 

lark ¹ |lärk|

noun

a small ground-dwelling songbird, typically with brown streaky plumage, a crest, and elongated hind claws, and with a song that is delivered in flight.

[Family Alaudidae: many genera and numerous species, e.g., the skylark.]

• used in names of similar birds of other families, e.g., the meadowlark.

ORIGIN Old English lāferce, lǣwerce; related to Dutch leeuwerik and German Lerche; of unknown ultimate origin.

lark ² |lärk| informal

noun

something done for fun, esp. something mischievous or daring; an amusing adventure or escapade: I only went along for a lark .

• [ usu. with modifier ] chiefly Brit.used to suggest that an activity is foolish or a waste of time: he's serious about this music lark.

verb [ no obj. ]

enjoy oneself by behaving in a playful and mischievous way: he jumped the fence to go larking the rest of the day.

 

As a result, lark is a bird linked to the day. Therefore Woolf’s evocation is aimed at suggesting an atmosphere of energy.

What is more, the moment of being make the self understand the belonging to a harmonious universe. So, the bird stays for nature power and combines to the character’s sense of awareness.