- The striped pajamas: These are the uniforms worn by the prisoners at the concentration camp where the story takes place. They are a symbol of the dehumanization of the prisoners and the horrors of the Holocaust.
- The fence: The fence that separates the concentration camp from the "outside world" is a symbol of the division between the two worlds and the isolation of the prisoners.
- The hut: The hut where Bruno and his family live is a symbol of their privileged status compared to the prisoners, but it also represents their ignorance of the atrocities taking place around them.
- The doll: Bruno's doll, which he takes with him to Auschwitz, is a symbol of his innocence and childhood, which are shattered by the horrors he witnesses.
- The train: The train that takes Bruno and his family to Auschwitz is a symbol of the transportation of Jews and other victims to the concentration camps, and the beginning of their journey into darkness.
- The bread: The bread that Bruno gives to Shmuel is a symbol of compassion and humanity in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
- The friendship between Bruno and Shmuel: The friendship between Bruno, the son of the Nazi commandant, and Shmuel, the Jewish prisoner, is a powerful symbol of hope and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.