There are many themes, symbols, and motifs present throughout the novel Refugee. Students can explore them by identifying a few and creating images and captions depicting examples from the text. Students can explore this by identifying a theme, symbol or motif themselves or, in an “envelope activity”, being given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then in this activity, students can create a storyboard illustrating the examples of that theme from the text.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols or motifs found in Refugee. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Invite students to share their ideas and findings about themes and symbols by holding a group discussion. This encourages active listening, helps students deepen understanding, and builds confidence in sharing their interpretations.
Write a list of open-ended questions about themes, symbols, or motifs. Use prompts like “What does the boat represent for Isabel?” to help students analyze text evidence and connect ideas.
Demonstrate how to reference specific quotes or scenes from Refugee to support student observations about motifs. This builds critical reading skills and helps students make their points clearly.
Remind students to listen to differing viewpoints and ask follow-up questions. Encourage them to consider why classmates interpret symbols or themes differently, promoting empathy and deeper analysis.
Have students spend a few minutes writing about a theme or symbol that resonated with them. This consolidates learning, gives each student a voice, and provides you with insight into their understanding.
Refugee by Alan Gratz explores powerful themes such as war trauma, family, hope vs. despair, oppression, displacement, and the refugee experience. These themes help students understand the struggles and resilience of people fleeing conflict and seeking safety.
Students can identify symbols and motifs in Refugee by tracking recurring objects, ideas, or phrases such as boats, Isabel's trumpet, or the yellow Jewish star. They can use activities like storyboarding or the "envelope activity" to record and illustrate these elements as they read.
A simple activity is to have students create a storyboard where they pick a theme, symbol, or motif from Refugee, draw scenes representing it, and write short captions explaining its meaning. This helps deepen understanding through both visual and written expression.
Themes, symbols, and motifs are important in Refugee because they highlight key messages about social justice, identity, and empathy. They help readers connect emotionally with characters and understand the broader impact of displacement and hope.
Examples of symbols in Refugee include boats (journey and escape), Isabel's trumpet (hope and culture), the cell phone (connection), and the yellow Jewish star (identity and persecution). Each symbol represents deeper meanings within the characters' experiences.