A person, object or action that represents something else

Symbol

Explanation:

A symbol is something that takes place of something else, but points to the thing that it has replaced. A skull or a vulture can be a symbol of death or doom, for example.

“way of writing” should be replaced with “writing style"

“idea” should be replaced with “purpose.”

maybe   “people from a long time ago” should be replaced with “elizabethans.”