Analyzing Freak the Mighty Theme, Symbols, and Motifs

Activity Overview

There are many themes, symbols, and motifs present throughout Freak the Mighty. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Freak the Mighty 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!

Examples of Themes, Symbols, and Motifs in Freak the Mighty

Friendship
Empathy
Family
Coming of Age
Storytelling
Courage
People with disabilities and Morquio syndrome
Family history and individuality
Trauma
Bullying
Isolation
Appearances
Death
Lies
Cleverness
The Dictionary
Kevin's Dictionary
Max's Blank Journal
The Down Under
King Arthur and Quests
The Ornithopter (Freak's bird)
Freak the Mighty

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Template and Class Instructions

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Due Date:

Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, or motifs found in Freak the Mighty. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from Freak the Mighty you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments
[ELA-Literacy/RL/8/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
[ELA-Literacy/RL/8/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts
[ELA-Literacy/W/6/6] Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
[ELA-Literacy/RL/5/1] Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

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Rubric

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Symbolism

Create a storyboard that identifies symbolism in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Identify Symbol(s)	All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story.	Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols.	No symbols are correctly identified.
Examples	All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.	Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant.	Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction	Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding.	Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.	Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols.