When an object is invested with a meaning beyond its immediate reference, it becomes

Analyze the question: It asks for the literary term used when an object carries a meaning beyond its literal, immediate reference.

Explain the concept: In literature, a symbol is an object, person, place, or action that stands for something beyond itself, usually an abstract idea. For example:

• A dove represents peace.
• A river can represent the passage of time or life's journey.
• In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, locusts and the "iron horse" (bicycle) represent the coming of colonialism.

Check each option:

• A. A symbol: An object that takes on extra meaning beyond its literal sense. This matches the question exactly.
• B. An irony: This is a contrast between what is said and what is meant, or between expectation and reality. It is not about an object gaining deeper meaning.
• C. A subject: This is the topic or theme under discussion, which is too general.
• D. An epigram: This is a short, witty, memorable statement, such as "The child is father of the man." It has nothing to do with objects.

Answer: The correct option is A, a symbol.

Tip: When you see "an object... meaning beyond its literal reference," think symbol. Remember it as: a symbol = a thing that stands for another thing. For irony, think "opposite or unexpected." For epigram, think "short and witty."