Activity Overview
Themes, symbols, and motifs are valuable aspects of any literary work, and they add richness to stories. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is to introduce and explain these complex concepts. However, abstract ideas are often difficult for students to analyze without assistance. Using a storyboard, students can visually demonstrate their understanding of these concepts, and master analysis of literary elements. For best practices, see our supplementary article with specific lesson plan steps on setting up your classroom and activities to teach themes, symbols, and motifs.
In the classroom, students can track the rich symbolism that Lowry uses throughout the novel. In the example storyboard above, there are five themes, motifs, and symbols that are noted in various chapters of the book.
Themes
Choices
Choices are a major theme in The Giver. Once Jonas has trained for a year, he begins to realize from the memories how sad life is without choices. The colors he begins to see are so beautiful, and he wishes that people could see them. This brings him to ask why people can't choose for themselves; why they can't wake up and pick a blue or red tunic. The community believes that if people make choices, they might carry out the wrong choices, or those choices might lead to something bad happening that violates the community's security.
Freedom vs. Security
Another major theme in the novel is freedom vs. security. The Committee created the idea of a perfect society, and with that comes a sense of safety. No one is ever hungry, everyone has a place, all are cared for. However, citizens must forfeit freedom to maintain this security.
Motifs and Symbols
Vocabulary Precision
A strange motif in the novel is precision of vocabulary. The idea that people in the utopia can articulate precisely suggests that the society can control words, their meanings, and ultimately the feelings associated with them. Thus, in turn, controlling the population, and how they feel.
Feelings
Throughout the novel the idea of sharing one's feelings reoccurs and is done by everyone in the community. Feelings, whether acceptable or not, are part of who we are as humans. Feeling sharing maintains a level of control over the community. The elders started feeling sharing so that they could police how people should feel.
Dreams
Dreams are a universal motif in literature. Often, writers use dreams to convey meaning, foreshadow, or to create fear or suspense. Jonas's dreams show the reader his society's oppression. He is not allowed to dream, even though it is pleasant. His dream begin his awakening, as he doesn't understand why dreams are banned.
Other Symbols
- Snow
- Sled
- Gabriel
- The River
- Nakedness
- Release/Death
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in The Giver. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the theme(s) from The Giver you wish to include and replace the "Theme 1" text.
- Create an image for examples that represent this theme.
- Write a description of each of the examples.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [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/8/9] Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is rendered new
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/8/10] By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Theme(s), Symbol(s), and/or Motif(s) | All themes are correctly identified as important recurring topics or messages in the story. Symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story. Motifs are correctly identified as important recurring features or ideas in the story. | Most themes are correctly identified, but others are missing or incomplete. Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or incomplete. Some motifs are correctly identified, but others are missing or incomplete. | Most themes are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. Most symbols are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. Most motifs are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. | No themes, symbols, or motifs are correctly identified. |
| Examples and Descriptions | Quotes and examples are accurate to the theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s) that are being identified. Descriptions accurately explain the theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s) and highlight their significance to the story. | Most quotes and examples are accurate to the theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motifs that are being identified. Descriptions mostly accurately explain the theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s), and highlight their significance to the story. | Most quotes and examples are minimal, incorrect, or unrelated to the theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s) that are being identified. Descriptions contain inaccuracies in their explanations, or do not highlight their significance to the story. | Examples and descriptions are missing or too minimal to score. |
| Depiction | Depictions chosen for theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s) are accurate to the story and reflect time, effort, thought, and care with regard to placement and creation of the scenes. | Depictions chosen for theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s) are mostly accurate to the story. They reflect time and effort put into placement and creation of the scenes. | Depictions chosen for theme(s), symbol(s), and/or motif(s) are inaccurate to the story. The depictions may be rushed or show minimal effort, time, and care put into placement and creation of the scenes. | Most depictions are missing too many elements or are too minimal to score. Little time or effort has been put into placement and creation of the scenes. |
| English Conventions | There are no errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions reflect careful proofreading and accuracy to the story. | There are a few errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions show accuracy to the story and some proofreading. | There are several errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. Most writing portions do not reflect proofreading or accuracy to the story. | Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics in writing portions of the storyboard seriously interfere with communication. |
How To Teach Students about Symbols and Motifs
Use What You Know
Use common objects like the flag, candles, or a heart to teach the concept of symbols. For instance, the flag is literally a piece of material that is red, white, and blue in color, but it represents freedom, sacrifice, and the American dream.
Find Examples in The Giver Together
Help students to find symbols in The Giver. You might start by talking about the apple or the bicycle, or the sled at the end of the story. An object that has importance beyond itself is a symbol.
Allow Students to Find Their Own
Once you have moved students through examples, allow them to find symbols on their own. You can then help them decide if the symbol is a motif because it is used more than once in the story. Using a storyboard will help students to clarify their thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions about Themes, Motifs and Symbols of The Giver
Why are themes, symbols, and motifs important in literature?
Themes, symbols, and motifs are literary elements that use abstract ideas to take a story deeper and add meaning and depth to a work. Authors and readers make connections through symbols, themes, and motifs that allow a reader to get more out of the experience.
How are symbols and motifs related?
A symbol is an object that represents something beyond itself in a story. If the symbol is used throughout the novel, then it is considered a motif. They add richness to a story and help readers make deeper connections.
How is a theme in a story illuminated?
The theme of a story is what the reader learns about life after reading. It is illuminated by the characters, their actions, the conflict, and the way the story develops.
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