Owl Whistle (Symbol)
Albert devises a special whistling call that he uses when he is first bonding with and training Joey. Soon, Joey recognizes Albert by the whistle. When Albert sees Joey again in France, the young man gives the whistle once more; the gesture symbolizes their bond and also lets Joey know that Albert truly is present. To Joey, the whistle is a symbol of the happy times in his younger days and of being loved, and it also symbolizes the unique connection between him and Albert.
Joey (Symbol)
To Emily's grandfather, Joey is a symbol of his little granddaughter and of her loving personality. Emily loved the horses like her own family members, and they kept her alive for much longer than her doctors had predicted because they raised her spirits so much. The old man sees Joey as a reminder of her, of pleasant days with her, and of the spirit of love and gentleness that she possessed.
White Flag (Symbol)
When Joey is trapped in No Man's Land, there are British troops on one side of him and German troops on the other. In an effort to rescue him, one of the Germans waves a white handkerchief that approximates a white flag to signal a truce. Instead of signifying defeat as such a symbol might under other circumstances, the white flag here symbolizes an entirely different set of values: communication, common sense, and (as the soldiers work together to free Joey) cooperation.
Church Bells (Symbol)
Throughout the book, the ringing of church bells in the village signifies news and gathering. When war is declared, the church bells ring to let the people in the village know that something important has happened and to summon them to meet. When Joey and Albert ride back into town, the bells ring for them again, indicating their safe return and also calling people to welcome them home. Thus, in a broad sense, the bells symbolize the unity and enduring spirit of the community that subsists around them.
Officer's Artwork (Symbol)
Before departing for France, Captain Nicholls sketches Joey, and in doing so creates one of the most pivotal and most complex symbols in the book. Morpurgo's "Author's Note" explains that the painting that resulted from the sketches is the starting point for War Horse itself. Thus, Nicholls's art symbolizes the possibility that creative expression, in literature and in the visual arts, can emerge from moments of historical hardship. The artwork is also indicative of the durability of the past. Symbolically, the painting also indicates the ability of Captain Nicholls and Joey to endure as guiding, inspiring presences decades after their deaths.
