Activity Overview
Novels often have a variety of themes, symbols, and motifs throughout that students can identify and analyze. All of these literary elements can be conveyed through characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Wringer and illustrate examples from the text. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an “envelope activity”, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, they'll create a spider map illustrating what they found! Teachers may ask students to illustrate multiple examples of a single theme, symbol, or motif, or illustrate one example for each.
Examples of Themes, Symbols and Motifs in Wringer
- Peer Pressure
- Bullying
- Friendship
- Shooting for sport
- Cruelty to Animals
- Family
- Growing Up
- Upstander vs. Bystander
- Conforming vs. Non-conforming
- Fear
- Non-Violence
- Rites of Passage
- Self Knowledge / Learning to be Yourself
- Nipper
- The Sharp Shooter Award
- The Toy Soldiers
- Nicknames
- The Farquar Treatment
- Treestumping
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, or motifs found in the story. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from the story that you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
- Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
- Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/6/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/8/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts
- [ELA-Literacy/W/6/6] Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/5/1] Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Symbol(s) | All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story. | Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols. | No symbols are correctly identified. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols. |
How to Teach Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Through Character Development
Introduction to Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Through Character Development
Begin by explaining the concepts of themes, symbols, and motifs in literature and how they can be linked to character development. Define and provide examples of each concept. Introduce the novel "Wringer" and discuss how characters are central to identifying and understanding these elements.
Character Selection and Exploration
Instruct students to choose one character from "Wringer" that they find compelling and want to analyze in the context of themes, symbols, and motifs. Have students read and take notes on the character's role, personality traits, and significant events in the story. Emphasize that character development often reveals the novel's themes, symbols, and motifs.
Identifying and Illustrating Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Through Character
Provide materials for creating visual representations such as posters, digital design tools, or art supplies. Have students create visual displays that highlight the character's journey and how it reflects or is intertwined with the novel's themes, symbols, and motifs. Encourage students to use images, symbols, and text to convey the character's growth and their connection to these literary elements.
Sharing and Discussion
Allow students to present their character-centric displays to the class, explaining how the character's development aligns with themes, symbols, and motifs in "Wringer." After each presentation, engage in a class discussion about the interplay between character development and the deeper literary elements in the novel. Encourage students to compare and contrast different character perspectives and their contributions to the understanding of the story's themes, symbols, and motifs.
How to Teach Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Through Character Development
Introduction to Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Through Character Development
Begin by explaining the concepts of themes, symbols, and motifs in literature and how they can be linked to character development. Define and provide examples of each concept. Introduce the novel "Wringer" and discuss how characters are central to identifying and understanding these elements.
Character Selection and Exploration
Instruct students to choose one character from "Wringer" that they find compelling and want to analyze in the context of themes, symbols, and motifs. Have students read and take notes on the character's role, personality traits, and significant events in the story. Emphasize that character development often reveals the novel's themes, symbols, and motifs.
Identifying and Illustrating Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Through Character
Provide materials for creating visual representations such as posters, digital design tools, or art supplies. Have students create visual displays that highlight the character's journey and how it reflects or is intertwined with the novel's themes, symbols, and motifs. Encourage students to use images, symbols, and text to convey the character's growth and their connection to these literary elements.
Sharing and Discussion
Allow students to present their character-centric displays to the class, explaining how the character's development aligns with themes, symbols, and motifs in "Wringer." After each presentation, engage in a class discussion about the interplay between character development and the deeper literary elements in the novel. Encourage students to compare and contrast different character perspectives and their contributions to the understanding of the story's themes, symbols, and motifs.
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