Activity Overview
Valuable aspects of any literary work are its themes, symbols, and motifs. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is to introduce and explain these complex concepts. However, abstract ideas are often difficult for students to grasp 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 article with specific lesson plan steps on setting up your classroom and activities to teach themes, symbols, and motifs.
Themes, Motifs, and Imagery to Look For & Discuss
Pride
The theme of pride is related through the narrator's dialogue. Some important passages are: “There is within me (and with sadness I have watched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love much as our blood sometimes bears the seed of our destruction…”; “All of us must have something to be proud of”; “Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life, and death.” These phrases shows the reader how pride is double edged. It teaches Doodle to walk for the narrator's selfish reasons, but it is also the indirect cause of Doodle's death.
The Scarlet Ibis
A symbol stands in for something else. In this story, the scarlet ibis represents Doodle. Like the ibis, Doodle was born and maintained a reddish hue. The color red is a universal symbol that can mean anger, love, danger, or warning. In the story, the color represents a warning of the death that will come.
The death of the bird and the death of Doodle mirror each other: the bird’s legs and neck are positioned like Doodle's body; they are both found underneath a tree or bush that references red in its name; both are lost in a storm.
The ibis also symbolizes rarity; it had traveled a long way, it was out of its element, and it was not meant to survive, much like Doodle. When Doodle fervently buries the bird, the imagery suggested that Doodle has a deep connection with the bird. Its rarity, coupled with the color red, suggests that their fates were connected.
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 Scarlet Ibis”. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
- Identify the theme(s) from “The Scarlet Ibis” you wish to include and replace the "Theme 1" text.
- Create an image for an example that represents this theme.
- Write a description of each of the examples.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/1] Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
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[ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/10] By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 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 Shape and Refine Themes By Adding Specific Details
Stay Consistent
Remind the students to stay consistent when writing a story. They should link themes and add details consistently so they connect with each other. Every detail should hold a meaning that the readers can use to understand the overall concept of the story.
List Down the Themes
Students can list down the themes that they want to add to the story and choose specific details accordingly. They can also use a map to connect the themes and details. The visual representation will them a better understanding of what they want to add.
Include Symbolism
Symbolism may be an interesting and engaging tool for expressing ideas. Ask the students to incorporate symbols or visual representations of the topics like items, colors, or recurrent motifs. For instance, bright colors can be used to represent youth and liveliness, yet dull and dark colors can be used to represent a monotonous and boring life.
Show Character Arcs
The growth of a character during the course of the narrative might serve as an example of how the themes have changed. Encourage the students to demonstrate how characters develop, acquire knowledge, or confront the topics. Readers should see how the issues affect the characters' perceptions and way of life.
Utilize Rich Vocabulary
By utilizing descriptive language, students can conjure up a striking mental image. To engage the senses of your readers and fully immerse them in the tale, students can use sensory elements. The use of such language and rich vocabulary can also make the story more interesting for the readers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Themes and Symbolism in "The Scarlet Ibis"
What are some of the main themes and symbols present in the story?
The narrative focuses on the complicated bond between the narrator (Brother) and his younger, handicapped brother, Doodle. Doodle’s brother is torn by Doodle's situation and is ashamed because of his disabilities. Pride is also one of the main elements of the story as the brother's pride and efforts to make Doodle "normal" have disastrous results. The scarlet ibis in the story is a representation of beauty and fragility in a harsh environment, which symbolizes the beauty of the natural world. The severity of nature expressed by the author is also highlighted in the narrative, as is the harshness of the setting.
What is the significance of the Coffin in the story?
In the narrative, the coffin serves as a potent symbol. It symbolizes demise and mortality and foreshadows Doodle's awful end. When Brother coerces Doodle to touch the coffin, it changes the course of their relationship and sets up the shocking conclusion to the tale.
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