Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes from the novel, and support their choices with details from the text. There are several themes present, and students should discern how these themes are developed.
Isabel remembers the love of her parents despite experiencing the tragedies of the death of her Momma and sale of her Poppa. She feels their connection throughout the novel, drawing on their love and family history to give her strength and courage to face her oppression. She is sister Ruth's caretaker and after the Locktons cruelly sell little Ruth, it gives Isabel the determination to escape in order to find her.
Isabel is not shown much kindness throughout the book but she does develop a friendship with Curzon who is loyal to her and helps her after her brutal punishment. She also is given advice and kind words from Grandfather by the Tea Water Pump. Lady Seymour's kindness is an unexpected sympathy that surprises Isabel. All of these friendships help Isabel throughout the novel gain the strength she needs to carry on.
The dehumanization of slavery is a central theme of the novel and so is Isabel's quest to reclaim her identity and humanity. The Lockton's try to erase her identity by forcing the name Sal and brutally ignoring her humanity. When she is branded, Madam Lockton uses "I" for "insolence" but Isabel discovers her scar can symbolize her real name, her inner strength, and her ability to survive, just as her father's African mark symbolized positive virtues in his culture.
The hypocrisy of the Patriots seeking independence from Great Britain when there were half a million people enslaved in the colonies is glaring. Throughout the novel, it is not clear who the "good guys" are. Isabel is told by Curzon that helping the Patriots could secure her own liberty but is disillusioned when she goes to Colonel Regan for help and is turned away. Lady Seymour seems to sympathize with Isabel and Ruth's plight but does not intervene too much.
Isabel's courage is evident throughout the book as she has to face the threat of violence and danger daily. Although she's small, Isabel defiantly faces up to her oppressors, always choosing what is right for herself and others over her own safety. Examples: when she covertly passes notes for the Patriots, sneaks food to Curzon in jail, stands up to Madam Lockton after Ruth is sold, steals the Pass and escapes, breaks Curzon out of jail, and rows across the Hudson to freedom!
Other themes present:(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Chains. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Encourage students to showcase their storyboard themes by setting up a classroom gallery walk. Gallery walks help students build confidence and learn from each other’s interpretations.
Have each student or pair post their completed storyboard on the wall or a table. This sets the stage for peer-to-peer learning and discussion.
Distribute sticky notes for students to leave encouraging comments or thoughtful questions on each storyboard. This promotes a supportive classroom culture and deeper critical thinking.
Facilitate a group talk where students share what themes stood out or surprised them. Reflecting together helps reinforce understanding and makes learning more memorable.
Chains explores key themes such as family, friendship, identity, hypocrisy, courage, and the harsh realities of slavery and suffering. These themes are developed through Isabel's journey and the challenges she faces.
Students can identify themes in Chains by creating a storyboard, illustrating key scenes that represent each theme, and writing short descriptions to explain how the examples support the chosen themes.
Identity is crucial in Chains because Isabel's struggle to reclaim her name and humanity under slavery highlights the dehumanizing effects of oppression and her journey toward self-empowerment.
Isabel shows courage by defying her oppressors, secretly helping the Patriots, standing up to Madam Lockton, and ultimately escaping to seek freedom for herself and Curzon.
Teachers can instruct students to identify recurring themes in Chains, choose examples from the novel, illustrate scenes using a storyboard, and write brief descriptions explaining how each scene relates to a theme.