Three symbols of terror are examined as representations of preoedipal conflicts that intrude upon conscious awareness and interfere with current functioning. To understand each of these symbols and their origins in a state of chronic terror, it is necessary to understand the complete life history of the patient. All three symbols—the witch/vampire, the spider, and the shark—relate to earliest experiences within the parent/infant dyad. We suggest that although all three symbols relate to the dimension of oral aggression, they can be placed conceptually along a continuum of distance from the quality of humanness. Clinical examples are given to illustrate the use of these symbols by patients in treatment and their theoretical implications.