Analyzing Themes in The One-Eyed Giant

Activity Overview

Several themes are present in the novel. Students can pick a theme to explore and should support their choice with specific details or events from the text. One prominent theme in The One-Eyed Giant is hospitality.

Hospitality

Throughout his journey, Odysseus and his men are continually tossed into different settings. On each island, they believe that they are entitled to the custom of Greek hospitality. Hosts are expected to provide food, shelter, and protection to any traveler, and guest are expected to be respectful and grateful. In The One-Eyed Giant, breaking these rules brings misfortune and the disfavor of the gods.

"’We are not pirates,’ he said. ‘We are Greeks blown off course by storm winds. Will you offer us the gift of hospitality like a good host? If you do, mighty Zeus, king of the gods, will be pleased.’”

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that identifies a theme in The One-Eyed Giant. Illustrate examples and write a short description below each cell.

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify a theme in the story and write it on the row.
Find three examples of the theme in the text and describe one in each cell.
Illustrate each example with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Click "Save & Exit" when done.

3 Columns by 2 Rows Storyboard Chart Template with Titles and Descriptions

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 3-6

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/3/2] Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

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Rubric

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Themes

Create a storyboard that identifies themes in the story. Illustrate examples of each theme and write a short description below each cell.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Identify Theme(s)	All themes are correctly identified and described.	Some themes are correctly identified.	No themes are correctly identified.
Examples of Theme(s)	All examples support the identified theme(s).	Most examples fit the identified theme(s).	Most examples do not fit the theme(s).
Illustrate Theme	Images clearly show connection with the theme(s).	Some images help to show the theme.	Images do not help in understanding the theme.