Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify a theme, symbol, or motif from the novel and design an image or scene as illustration. Below each square, they should explain their scene’s significance. The example storyboard discusses the symbolism behind Papa’s roses. Other symbols, themes, and motifs include the following:
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies and explains one symbol from the text.
Engage students in a group talk to help them recognize and understand symbols in stories before they begin their own storyboard. This builds background knowledge and sparks ideas.
Demonstrate how to interpret a symbol by sharing your thought process out loud as you analyze, for example, the birthday doll. This gives students a clear example of how to connect symbols to themes.
Facilitate a brainstorm session where students list symbols they’ve found in the text. This promotes active reading and prepares them for the storyboard task.
Help students choose scenes that best represent their chosen symbol. Encourage them to think about moments that reveal the symbol’s importance in Esperanza’s journey.
Arrange for students to present their storyboards to the class or in small groups. This lets them learn from each other and deepen their understanding of the novel’s symbols.
Symbols in Esperanza Rising include Papa’s roses, Esperanza’s birthday doll, the blanket Abuelita and Esperanza work on, and the meaning of Esperanza’s name (“hope”). Each represents key themes like hope, family, and perseverance.
To teach themes and symbols with storyboards, have students choose a theme, symbol, or motif from the novel, illustrate a scene that represents it, and write a brief explanation of its significance below each image. This makes abstract ideas more concrete and engaging.
Papa’s roses symbolize memory, hope, and continuity for Esperanza. They remind her of her father and help her stay connected to her family’s legacy during difficult times.
Ask students to look for repeated images or ideas—such as plants, earth, or crocheting. Have them discuss how these motifs develop the novel’s themes and then illustrate them in a storyboard for better understanding.
Symbols and themes help students connect emotionally with the story, recognize deeper meanings, and relate personal experiences to the characters’ journeys, making their reading more meaningful and insightful.