Sara's Oval Frame (Symbol)
Sara's oval frame is a symbol of her love for Miranda. The frame is given to her as a gift from Miranda. She fills it with a portrait she paints of Miranda and it then becomes her most precious belonging. She takes it with her everywhere. It is a sign, later in the story, that she has met a bad end, as she leaves without taking it. She carries it around as a reminder of her feelings for Miranda and the joy she experienced when she was given the frame.
Fate and Chance (Motif)
Fate and chance are recurring motifs. The narrator repeatedly notes that minor decisions often have huge consequences for the people who make them. This idea is mentioned when Albert takes Mr. Leopold's money and is also brought up when the girls choose to walk up into the rocks. In both cases, a small action ultimately causes a chain of events with an outsized impact. This motif is brought up to show how events are often linked in surprising ways, with seemingly small choices dramatically shaping people's lives.
Hanging Rock (Symbol)
Hanging Rock is a symbol of mysticism in the novel. The rocks are described as being incredibly ancient and causing people to experience strange sensations. This is seen in the early chapters of the novel as well as during the police investigation of the area. While the rocks' powers are never fully explicated, they possess a hold on the people near them. In this way, Hanging Rock functions as a sign of forces beyond human understanding.
Miranda's Face (Symbol)
Miranda's face is a symbol of beatific kindness in the novel. All the girls, and several of the instructors, remark on Miranda's face. They say it is soothing to look at and incredibly striking. People say that she is beautiful, but not in the same way as Irma. What they mean is that she is a comforting presence. The image of her face later comes to symbolize this sort of radical generosity, reminding people of her even demeanor and desire to be a figure for peace and understanding. This symbolic significance also serves as a reminder of what a terrible loss her disappearance is for the school.
Headlines (Symbol)
Headlines work as a symbol of the newspaper's desire to profit off of tragedy. Throughout the book, various dramatic headlines appear describing the terrible events at Hanging Rock and their aftermath. The intensity of the headlines, coupled with their lack of factual accuracy, indicate to the reader that the papers care little about the people in the stories or verifying their claims. The headlines symbolize the prevalence and power of gossip.
