Abstract: The movie Forrest Gump is an imaginative and unique masterpiece. The                                  hero Gump’s life is such a legendary experience that it impresses us deeply. Forrest Gump is a classic movie for successful usage of symbolism. The thesis aims to systematically analyze the application of symbolism in this film from the aspects of characters, events and props, and interpret their symbolic meanings. Meanwhile, it also explores the significance of symbolism in this film. It is concluded that the usage of symbolism greatly enriches the connotation of the movie and helps to shape lively characters, enhance its artistic values and provides audiences more spaces for reflection and imagination.

Key words: Forrest Gump; symbolism; significance

摘要：电影《阿甘正传》是一部匠心独运，不同凡响的杰作。主人公阿甘一生的传奇经历，给我们留下了非常深刻的印象。电影《阿甘正传》是一部成功运用象征主义的经典影片，本文旨在研究电影中象征主义的运用，探讨电影中的人物、事件、道具各自具有的象征意义，并对其象征意义进行详尽的分析。同时探索电影中象征主义的重要意义，揭示出象征主义在电影中的运用极大地丰富了影片的内涵，有助于塑造出鲜活的人物，提升影片的艺术鉴赏性，同时给观众提供了思索及想象的空间。

关键词：《阿甘正传》；象征主义；意义

　　Forrest Gump is an inclusive and meaningful film. It’s an American fable which collects history, myth, legends and stories of ordinary people. Bearing typical features of contemporary American people, Gump not only follows an amazing life path, but also experiences the twists and turns of American history. When he runs all over the United States from east to west, he runs through 35 years of American history at the same time, and his running represents the introspection of a generation of Americans to their memorable history. The film strikes the hearts of the audience by American mainstream culture represented by Forrest Gump: the pursuit for goodness of human nature and persistent fighting spirit. 

　　Forrest Gump is one of the most amazing movies ever seen. After watching it one will gain several cognitions because the movie is saturated with many symbols. Undoubtedly, symbolism plays a very important role in the presentation of the characterization, and the enhancing of artistic effect. It gives audiences enough space to ponder and imagine. The profundity of the film is that it reveals the core of human nature and major issues in the society through common people and small things; meanwhile, it gives people a lot of inspiration.