Roses
Roses are a recurring motif in the play, most notably because the name Rosalind invites a number of comparisons to the word "rose." Celia refers to Rosalind as her "sweet Rose" in Act One, establishing the term of endearment between the cousins. Later, however, Touchstone will allude to Rosalind as a "rose" in another context, when he warns Orlando that roses smell sweet but can also be thorny. Touchstone uses the word "prick" to describe the danger associated with roses, but also to intimate that Rosalind is disguised as a boy (the term "prick" had the same bawdy connotation in early modern England as it does for contemporary audiences).
Deer
Deer are an important symbol in the play. Generally speaking, deer represent the pursuit of love: long before Shakespeare was writing, English poets frequently relied on the metaphor of a hunted deer to symbolize a woman the poet wished to woo (Sir Thomas Wyatt's sixteenth-century poetry about hunting "hinds" is the best example of this metaphor from the early modern period). Within the context of the play, the numerous allusions to deer and deer parts emphasize the play's interest in love, power dynamics, and gender roles.
Snakes
When Oliver enters the Forest of Arden, Orlando finds him with a she-snake around his neck, about to be struck. Orlando saves his brother, who then undergoes a major conversion and dispels with his evil ways. Typically, snakes in early modern English literature are almost always allusions to the appearance of the serpent (Satan) in the biblical Garden of Eden, and this moment could be a reflection of Oliver's malicious intent. Notably, however, the snake is gendered female (as is the lion that appears almost immediately after), which suggests that danger in the play is associated with women. The play therefore uses animals and animal imagery to showcase male anxiety over female power.
Ganymede
Ganymede – Rosalind's disguise – is both a character and a symbol in the play. Ganymede symbolizes gender fluidity and freedom, as it is only through her disguise as Ganymede that Rosalind is able to get closer to her lover, Orlando and that Orlando is able to fully express his desire for Rosalind. The term "Ganymede" was also, at the time, used to describe a boy who had a sexual relationship with an older man; Ganymede is also therefore a symbol of homosexual and homosocial bonding.
Horns
Along with frequent references to deer comes a number of remarks about horns and men wearing horns. This motif once again highlights the male characters' anxieties over women and fidelity, as "wearing the horns" in early modern England denoted a man who was cuckolded – or a man whose wife was sexually unfaithful. Interestingly, despite all the references to cuckoldry in the play, not a single character engages in infidelity, suggesting that the men's preoccupation with women's sexuality is unfounded and even absurd.
