Novels often have a variety of themes, symbols, and motifs throughout that students can identify and analyze. All of these literary elements can be conveyed through characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Echo and illustrate examples from the text. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an “envelope activity”, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, they'll create a spider map illustrating what they found! Teachers may ask students to illustrate multiple examples of a single theme, symbol, or motif, or illustrate one example for each.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, or motifs found in the story. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Encourage student ownership by assigning groups to lead a class conversation. Give each group a theme, symbol, or motif from Echo, and have them prepare questions and examples to discuss with their peers. This deepens understanding and builds confidence in literary analysis.
Decide whether you want students to explore new meanings, share personal connections, or practice using evidence from the text. Clarifying your objectives helps keep the discussion focused and productive.
Write open-ended questions that prompt students to think critically about the theme or symbol. Questions like, "How does music influence the characters?" or "What does the harmonica represent?" help spark meaningful conversation.
Offer sentence frames such as, "I noticed that..." or "This symbol reminds me of..." to support students who may be shy or unsure. Accessible scaffolds help everyone participate.
Ask students to write or share one new idea they gained from the discussion. This reinforces active listening and helps you assess their understanding of key literary elements.
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan features key themes like the power of music, perseverance, freedom, family, and journeys. Important symbols include the harmonica and Carnegie Hall, while motifs such as specific songs (e.g., "Brahms' Lullaby") and names recur throughout the story to deepen its meaning.
To teach students to identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Echo, guide them to pay attention to repeated ideas, objects, or messages in the text. Use activities like spider maps, group discussions, and envelope activities to help students track and illustrate these elements as they read.
A great classroom activity is the envelope activity, where students are assigned motifs or symbols to track during reading. They then create a storyboard or spider map to illustrate their findings and write brief descriptions, fostering deeper analysis and engagement.
The harmonica in Echo is a powerful symbol representing hope, connection, and the transformative power of music. It links the different characters' stories and highlights how music can inspire resilience and unity even in challenging times.
Common motifs in Echo include repeated songs like "America the Beautiful" and the journey motif, both of which symbolize hope, new beginnings, and the characters' personal growth. Tracking these motifs helps students understand the novel's deeper messages.