Refugee by Alan Gratz — Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Q: What are the main themes in the novel Refugee by Alan Gratz?

Refugee by Alan Gratz explores powerful themes such as war trauma , family , hope vs. despair , oppression , displacement , and the refugee experience . These themes help students understand the struggles and resilience of people fleeing conflict and seeking safety.

Q: How can students identify symbols and motifs in Refugee?

Students can identify symbols and motifs in Refugee by tracking recurring objects, ideas, or phrases such as boats , Isabel's trumpet , or the yellow Jewish star . They can use activities like storyboarding or the "envelope activity" to record and illustrate these elements as they read.

Q: What is a simple classroom activity to teach themes and symbols in Refugee?

A simple activity is to have students create a storyboard where they pick a theme, symbol, or motif from Refugee , draw scenes representing it, and write short captions explaining its meaning. This helps deepen understanding through both visual and written expression.

Q: Why are themes, symbols, and motifs important in Refugee's story?

Themes, symbols, and motifs are important in Refugee because they highlight key messages about social justice , identity , and empathy . They help readers connect emotionally with characters and understand the broader impact of displacement and hope.

Q: What are some examples of symbols in Refugee and their meanings?

Examples of symbols in Refugee include boats (journey and escape), Isabel's trumpet (hope and culture), the cell phone (connection), and the yellow Jewish star (identity and persecution). Each symbol represents deeper meanings within the characters' experiences.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Student Rubric

Lesson Plan Overview

There are many themes, symbols, and motifs present throughout the novel Refugee. Students can explore them by identifying a few and creating images and captions depicting examples from the text. Students can explore this by identifying a theme, symbol or motif themselves or, in an “envelope activity”, being given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then in this activity, students can create a storyboard illustrating the examples of that theme from the text.

Examples of Themes in Refugee

War
Trauma
Holocaust
Oppression
Coming of Age
Injustice
Cruelty vs. Kindness
Apathy vs. Empathy
Hope vs. Despair
Family
Displacement
The Refugee Experience
Invisibility
Journey to a Better Life
Social Justice
Sacrifice
Cultural ties

Examples of Symbols and Motifs in Refugee

Boats
Isabel's Trumpet
Cell Phone and Technology
The Yellow Jewish Star
Water
Manana/Tomorrow
religion
prayers
Funeral customs
clave/Cuban music
dictators
"just doing my job" / relinquishing responsibility

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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 Refugee. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from Refugee 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.

Spider Diagram Template with 3 Empty Boxes

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Symbolism

Create a storyboard that identifies symbolism in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	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.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Examples of Themes in Refugee

War
Trauma
Holocaust
Oppression
Coming of Age
Injustice
Cruelty vs. Kindness
Apathy vs. Empathy
Hope vs. Despair
Family
Displacement
The Refugee Experience
Invisibility
Journey to a Better Life
Social Justice
Sacrifice
Cultural ties

Examples of Symbols and Motifs in Refugee

Boats
Isabel's Trumpet
Cell Phone and Technology
The Yellow Jewish Star
Water
Manana/Tomorrow
religion
prayers
Funeral customs
clave/Cuban music
dictators
"just doing my job" / relinquishing responsibility

Copy Activity

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 Refugee. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from Refugee 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.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Copy Activity

Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Symbolism

Create a storyboard that identifies symbolism in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	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.

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How Tos about Themes, Symbols, and Motifs in Refugee

Organize a classroom discussion on themes and symbols in Refugee

Invite students to share their ideas and findings about themes and symbols by holding a group discussion. This encourages active listening, helps students deepen understanding, and builds confidence in sharing their interpretations.

Prepare guiding questions to spark student thinking

Write a list of open-ended questions about themes, symbols, or motifs. Use prompts like “What does the boat represent for Isabel?” to help students analyze text evidence and connect ideas.

Model how to cite text evidence when discussing motifs

Demonstrate how to reference specific quotes or scenes from Refugee to support student observations about motifs. This builds critical reading skills and helps students make their points clearly.

Encourage respectful debate and multiple perspectives

Remind students to listen to differing viewpoints and ask follow-up questions. Encourage them to consider why classmates interpret symbols or themes differently, promoting empathy and deeper analysis.

Wrap up with a quick-write reflection

Have students spend a few minutes writing about a theme or symbol that resonated with them. This consolidates learning, gives each student a voice, and provides you with insight into their understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions about Themes, Symbols, and Motifs in Refugee

What are the main themes in the novel Refugee by Alan Gratz?

Refugee by Alan Gratz explores powerful themes such as war trauma, family, hope vs. despair, oppression, displacement, and the refugee experience. These themes help students understand the struggles and resilience of people fleeing conflict and seeking safety.

How can students identify symbols and motifs in Refugee?

Students can identify symbols and motifs in Refugee by tracking recurring objects, ideas, or phrases such as boats, Isabel's trumpet, or the yellow Jewish star. They can use activities like storyboarding or the "envelope activity" to record and illustrate these elements as they read.

What is a simple classroom activity to teach themes and symbols in Refugee?

A simple activity is to have students create a storyboard where they pick a theme, symbol, or motif from Refugee, draw scenes representing it, and write short captions explaining its meaning. This helps deepen understanding through both visual and written expression.

Why are themes, symbols, and motifs important in Refugee's story?

Themes, symbols, and motifs are important in Refugee because they highlight key messages about social justice, identity, and empathy. They help readers connect emotionally with characters and understand the broader impact of displacement and hope.

What are some examples of symbols in Refugee and their meanings?

Examples of symbols in Refugee include boats (journey and escape), Isabel's trumpet (hope and culture), the cell phone (connection), and the yellow Jewish star (identity and persecution). Each symbol represents deeper meanings within the characters' experiences.