Question

Over time and through repetition in literature, __________ has become a symbol for death.

Answer 1

Overtime, black and night (best association with darkness) and winter are common literary symbols for death.  In literature overtime, night has been considered as the strongest symbol for death. Winter on the other hand; although it is not associated with darkness, it is true to one of Robert Frost’s  on his "Stopping by a Wood on a Winter's Night" .   Examples of literary works that can justify that these words are used to symbolize death.

"It's the light they believe that kills/we drink and load again and let them crawl into the darkness we're headed for"--- Shooting Rats at the Bibb County Dump by David Bottoms

"Do not go gentle into that good night  Old age should rage against the closing of the day  Rage, rage against the dying of the light." ---Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Dylan Thomas