Wonky Eye (Symbol)
At first, Joe believes the "glamourie" in his eye to be a physical impairment. Although this eye was at first his "good" eye (as opposed to his lazy eye), he begins to call it his "wonky eye" because of the second sight he gains in it through the "glamourie." However, this "wonky eye" also gives Joe a way to see the world in a new light, which he learns to embrace over time and soon uses to his advantage. The "wonky eye" and glamourie that at first seems like a hindrance later becomes a valued gift.
The Stone (Symbol)
At one point, Treacle Walker states that the stone, because it is "small" and "of little price," is "spurned by fools" but "honoured by the wise," which means that fools do not value it but wise people can see its true value. Fools assume that because of the stone's small appearance, it has little value. But people who are wise can look past its visual qualities and see that it still has great power. The stone becomes a symbol for the fact that we should not judge something based simply on its surface-level qualities or appearance.
"What's out is in. What's in is out." (Motif)
Both Treacle Walker and Thin Amren repeat this phrase often while talking to Joe, who at first does not understand what they mean. This repeated phrase, as a motif, corresponds to one of the novel's central themes: that things may not be what they may seem—that our understanding of reality can be altered and it may be unproductive to think in rigid, black-and-white ways.
Treacle Walker (Allegory)
Because of the novel's similarity to fables and folktales, many critics and reviewers have classified the entire book as an allegory; each character within the novel possesses a hidden meaning due to the extended use of wordplay, magical realism, and other elements that function both as objects within the story and as symbols. Each character could be interpreted as a symbol for a deeper message within the novel's thematic exploration of time, reality, magic, childhood, and other topics.
Glamourie (Motif)
"Glamourie," an obsolete word for "magic" stemming from British origins, appears many times throughout the piece as Treacle Walker and Thin Amren refer to Joe's newfound second sight as the "glamourie." This motif is both thematic and atmospheric; it emphasizes the story's magical elements while also contributing to the story's overall use of obsolete words that may, to a modern ear, sound nonsensical. The term "glamourie" adds a level of mystery, since Joe, and presumably the reader, do not immediately know what it means. When Treacle Walker uses the word "glamourie" rather than magic, his choice amplifies the mystery that surrounds his presence and his connections to different forms of language.
