Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes and symbols from the book, and support their choices with details from the text.
Much of the book focuses on the question that plagued Wiesenthal his entire life; should he have forgiven Karl? Throughout the book, he questions the act of forgiveness and what it truly means. Even more fascinating is reading and examining the thoughts and reactions of others from the book and from the symposium. Through his story and the responses it generates, readers learn that each choice or opinion is personal.
Although the reader can clearly see that Wiesenthal is concerned with forgiveness, he is really more concerned with Justice. His deeper question in the face of forgiveness is whether or not he, or anyone else, has the right to make statements against atrocities not committed against them, or to speak for a group of people. In the case of Karl the SS soldier, would it have been just for Wiesenthal to forgive him in this instance? When is it our right to forgive?
In the book, Wiesenthal describes many prominent times of silence. The first being his silence in response to Karl's question. The second refers to the silence Karl describes after his father boycotted him for joining the Hitler youth. Third, was the silence Simon presented to Karl’s mother when he went to her house. And finally, the silence of God, which Simon discusses often with Arthur and Josek. They believe that God has turned his back in their time of need; He is silent for the Jewish people.
In the book, Wiesenthal is often mesmerized by the sunflowers that lie, beautifully planted, over the graves of dead Nazi soldiers. The sunflowers represented a connection to the living word, a world that Wiesenthal no longer felt he was a part of as a prisoner. Moreover, the sunflower was a looming reminder that there would be no one to mourn him, or to plant flowers on his grave. Thus, the sunflower symbolizes the loss of life, injustice, and dehumanization of Jewish people by the Nazis.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in The Sunflower. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Encourage critical thinking and empathy by introducing a class discussion centered on the difficult choices characters face in The Sunflower. Discussing moral dilemmas helps students analyze real-world ethics and relate them to the story.
Pick a key scene where a character faces a tough moral choice, such as Simon’s decision to forgive or remain silent. Present the dilemma to students and ask them to consider what they would do in a similar situation.
Organize students into groups of 3–5 to discuss their thoughts and feelings about the dilemma. Small groups encourage active participation and help quieter students share their perspectives.
Ask each group to explain their reasoning and what they learned from each other. This step builds understanding and shows that moral questions can have multiple viewpoints.
Wrap up by linking the moral dilemmas from The Sunflower to your classroom’s values, such as respect, compassion, and responsibility. This helps students apply lessons from literature to their own lives.
The main themes in The Sunflower include forgiveness, justice, and silence. The book explores whether it is possible or right to forgive atrocities, questions the limits of justice, and examines the meaning behind moments of silence in times of trauma and moral conflict.
A great way to teach The Sunflower is through storyboarding. Have students identify key themes and symbols, illustrate examples from the text, and write brief descriptions. This approach helps students connect visually and thoughtfully with complex ideas like forgiveness and justice.
In the book, the sunflower symbolizes connection to the living world and highlights feelings of loss, injustice, and dehumanization. Wiesenthal is struck by sunflowers on Nazi graves, realizing that he and other prisoners may have no one to remember them, underscoring their isolation.
Forgiveness is difficult in The Sunflower because it raises moral dilemmas: Can one forgive crimes not committed against them personally? Is it possible to forgive on behalf of others? These questions challenge both the characters and readers to consider the limits and meaning of forgiveness.
Effective activities include creating storyboards of recurring motifs, group discussions on the significance of silence and justice, and writing reflections on personal responses to forgiveness. These methods encourage critical thinking and personal engagement with the text.