Symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days: What They Mean and Why They Matter

Jules Verne’s adventure novel moves fast, but its objects and images do quiet work beneath the action.

The symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days show how time, travel, money, and duty shape the story.

In this Guide

• Why the novel’s symbols matter
• Clocks and time
• The journey around the globe
• The bet and money
• Machines and modern progress
• Documents and suspicion
• The elephant and the detour
• Aouda and moral duty
• Writing tips and FAQ

Why Symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days Matter

Verne uses simple objects to point toward bigger ideas.

A clock is not just a clock in this novel. A train is not just a way to move. These details help readers see the conflict between strict plans and messy real life.

Symbolism matters because it links the adventure plot to theme. If you want a quick refresher, read our guide on how to find symbolism in a story.

Symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days: Clocks and Time

Time is the strongest force in the novel.

Of all the symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days, clocks are the easiest to spot. Phileas Fogg lives by exact minutes. His whole trip depends on whether he can master the clock.

Clocks symbolize order, pressure, and control. Fogg believes life can be measured and planned. Yet the trip keeps testing that belief with storms, delays, and mistakes.

This symbol connects to the theme of time versus human limits. Fogg can count hours, but he cannot fully control the world.

A useful comparison is the White Rabbit’s watch in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In both works, a timepiece creates urgency. The difference is that Verne treats time as a social rule, not just a strange joke.

The Journey Around the Globe

The route itself becomes a symbol of ambition.

The trip around the world is one of the biggest symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days. It represents the modern dream that distance can be beaten by planning, money, and machines.

Fogg first treats the globe like a schedule. He sees cities and oceans as steps in a problem to solve.

Yes, the route shows progress. It also shows how much the world cannot fit into neat lines on a map.

This symbol connects to the theme of control versus experience. Fogg wants to pass through the world, but the world keeps forcing him to respond to people and danger.

Symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days: The Bet

The wager turns travel into a test of identity.

The bet is more than a plot device. It symbolizes Fogg’s honor, pride, and faith in reason.

He risks a huge amount of money, but the money is not the deepest issue. What matters is whether his word can stand against chance.

This is why the bet is one of the clearest symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days. It turns an outer journey into an inner test.

The bet also reveals class and social pressure. Fogg’s club friends watch him like judges, and he must prove that his calm confidence is real.

Steamships, Trains, and Modern Progress

Machines show the power and limits of the modern age.

Steamships and trains are central symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days. They stand for speed, invention, and a new connected world.

Verne admired technology, but he did not make it perfect. Machines break schedules, depend on fuel, and still face weather.

That tension creates an important theme: progress helps people, but it does not remove risk. A machine can carry Fogg across a continent, but it cannot promise safety.

For background on Verne’s role in early science fiction, see Britannica’s overview of Jules Verne.

Passports, Tickets, and Papers

Documents show how trust depends on proof.

Passports, tickets, and official papers may seem boring, but they carry symbolic weight. They stand for identity in a world shaped by borders and rules.

Detective Fix adds another layer. Because he suspects Fogg, every paper can become evidence.

These objects connect to the theme of appearance versus truth. Fogg looks guilty to Fix, even when his actions tell another story.

In a story full of movement, papers remind us that systems try to pin people down.

The Elephant and the Unexpected Detour

The elephant shows that the old world still matters.

When Fogg buys an elephant in India, the moment feels strange and memorable. The animal becomes a symbol of surprise, force, and adaptation.

Fogg wants the fastest route, but the elephant is not modern technology. It belongs to a different kind of travel.

This symbol connects to the theme of flexibility. Fogg succeeds not only because he loves order, but because he learns to adjust when order fails.

Aouda and Moral Duty

Aouda helps shift the story from speed to care.

Aouda should not be treated as just a symbol or prize. She is a character whose rescue changes the moral shape of the journey.

Still, her presence symbolizes human duty. Fogg risks time to save her, and that choice shows there are values higher than winning a bet.

Her role connects to the theme of personal growth. Fogg begins as a man of routine, but his actions show courage and compassion.

How to Write About Symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days

A strong paragraph links a symbol to theme.

When you write about symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days, start with one image. Then explain what it suggests and how the plot supports that meaning.

For example, do not just say that clocks represent time. Say that clocks represent Fogg’s belief that life can be controlled, while the delays prove that life resists total control.

For quick practice, you can pair this article with our symbolism notes template as you annotate each chapter.

Good symbolism writing uses evidence. Pick a scene, name the symbol, and connect it to a clear theme.

Books to Pair with This Symbolism Guide

These books can help you compare travel, time, and science in classic literature.

• Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
• The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

FAQ About Symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days

These quick answers can help you review before a quiz or essay.

What are the most important symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days?

The most important symbols are clocks, the global route, the bet, machines, travel papers, and the elephant.

What does time symbolize in the novel?

Time symbolizes order, pressure, and the limits of control. Fogg respects time, but he cannot fully rule it.

Is Aouda a symbol?

Aouda is first a full character. Her rescue also represents moral duty and shows that compassion matters more than speed.

How do symbols connect to theme?

Symbols turn big ideas into concrete images. In this novel, objects like clocks and trains help explain themes of progress, risk, and self-control.

Key Takeaway

The best insight is simple but powerful.

The symbols in Around the World in Eighty Days reveal that progress is exciting, but character matters more than speed. Fogg wins not just by racing the clock, but by learning when people matter more than plans.