A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.

Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a novel with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the novel in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

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Example To Kill a MockingbirdPlot Diagram

Exposition

The Finch family lives in Maycomb, Alabama. Although it is the 1930s, a time of depression, the family is not struggling. Atticus, the father, is a prominent lawyer. The narrator explains that it is a time of racism and prejudice.

Conflict

A young black man is accused of raping a white woman, and Atticus is asked to defend him. This is not easy; Atticus must overcome the prejudice and preconceptions people of Maycomb have against Tom Robinson.

Rising Action

Atticus’ children, Scout and Jem, become a center of attention because their father is representing a black man. Throughout the trial, the children go through tribulations of their own as they learn valuable lessons about justice, commitment, and what is right.

Climax

Tom is found guilty, and Atticus’ innocent children cannot believe that the people they knew could send an innocent man to the electric chair.

Falling Action

One man in particular, Bob Ewell, has made his disapproval of Atticus well known. During the move, he threatened both Atticus, and Tom’s wife, Helen. The children fear he will do something to hurt their father.

Resolution

In the end, Ewell goes after Scout and Jem instead of Atticus. In the process, their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, comes to the children's rescue. He grabs Ewell's knife and kills him.

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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 anatomize 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.

In the classroom, students can track the themes this story uses to send a strong message to its readers. Have students track the four lessons Scout learns throughout the novel, then create a storyboard depicting and explaining each of them, or have them track one theme, symbol, or motif throughout.

1. Put yourself in someone else's shoes to see life from their perspective.
2. Don't kill mockingbirds, to kill a mockingbird is unfair because they are small and defenseless and don't bother anyone.
3. Keep fighting, even if you know you are going to lose.
4. The world is unfair.

Other TKAM Themes, Motifs, and Imagery to Look for and Discuss

Good vs. Evil

Through the eyes of the innocent children - Scout, Jem, and Dill - the world seems very clear. The further Atticus progresses into the trial of Tom Robinson, the more the children learn that not everything in life is fair, and sometimes evil prevails. This is the theme that ultimately leaves Jem disenchanted with the justice system and leaves Scout in disbelief; that people would convict a man based on their prejudicial beliefs, instead of the truth.

Having Morals

An important theme and lesson, found throughout the novel, is the necessity of morals. Morals are a person’s core beliefs, principles by which they live their life. Being morally educated is important because it helps us to be sympathetic and understand others.

Prejudice and Social Inequality

The people of Maycomb are so caught up in their ignorant beliefs that they convict a man because his is black, and not because he is guilty.

Birds and Mockingbirds

In the novel Scout, almost kills a mockingbird. This upsets Atticus who says that Mockingbirds are weak and defenseless creatures. These birds are meant to symbolize people in the world who are weak and defenseless and cannot help themselves. Moreover, it specifically eludes to Tom Robinson as a defenseless black man on trial for murder. Atticus teaches a moral lesson through this symbol: people should do everything they can to help those who are defenseless. This is why he defends Tom, even though he knows what the verdict will be.

Storyboard Example: The Theme of Good vs. Evil in To Kill a Mockingbird

Evil

After Tom Robinson is arrested, the town mobs the jail. They assume he is guilty, and want to take action, demonstrating their racism.

Good

When Miss. Maudie's house catches fire, the town rallies to help her, showing the good in people, and their willingness to help.

Good/Evil

Boo Radley is initially viewed by the children as a terrible person. They often taunted, and told stories about him. However, Boo proves to be good though his actions, helping Scout and Jem learn a lesson.

While doing research for this teacher's guide, I kept coming across an interesting project that many teachers are assigning: using the Hero’s Journey with a character from the novel. Students create a presentation with either Atticus or Scout as the hero, and depict it using the steps of the Hero's Journey! I had never looked at either one of them through the lens of the Monomyth before. Not only does it work, but it's fun as well!

Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the ”Hero’s Journey” is a recurring pattern of stages many heroes undergo over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most basic version has 12 steps, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.

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Example: My Interpretation of the Finches' Heroic Journey