Looking for Alaska Symbols

Smoking

When Miles arrives at Culver Creek, one of the first things the Colonel and Alaska convince him to do is to start smoking cigarettes. Miles says he doesn’t really have a reason for smoking, but… read analysis of Smoking

Last Words

For much of Looking for Alaska, Miles thinks of last words as a way to encapsulate the way a great person lived, and he memorizes many famous people’s last words. Like the Buddhist koans… read analysis of Last Words

The Labyrinth

One of the clearer symbols in Looking for Alaska is the labyrinth. Alaska loves the last words of Simón Bolívar: “Damn it, how will I ever get out of this labyrinth!” At the beginning… read analysis of The Labyrinth

White Flowers

For Alaska, white flowers symbolize her mother. Before her death, Alaska’s mother used to put white daisies in Alaska’s hair. Daisies are traditional symbols of innocence. Alaska remembers the anniversary of her mother’s death… read analysis of White Flowers

Measures of Distance

Distance plays an important role in Looking for Alaska—so much so that it becomes a part of certain characters’ identities. The Colonel connects Miles’ name to “miles” travelled, and in this… read analysis of Measures of Distance