Activity Overview
There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout the novel The Breadwinner. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in The Breadwinner 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!
Examples of Themes, Symbols and Motifs in The Breadwinner
Themes
- Subjugation and Oppression of Women
- Education
- Literacy
- Freedom
- Oppression
- Suffering
- Misogyny
- War
- Family
- Hope
- Friendship
- Courage
- Gender Roles
- Poverty
- Death
- Depression
- Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress
- Refugees
Symbols
- Replanted flowers
- Parvana's red shalwar kameez that is for sale
- Hossain's clothes
- The bones
Motifs
- Fallen trinkets
- Nooria's and Parvana's fighting / sibling rivalry
- "Mount Parvana"
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: Identify recurring themes, symbols, or motifs found in The Breadwinner. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from The Breadwinner 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
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. |
Activity Overview
There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout the novel The Breadwinner. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in The Breadwinner 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!
Examples of Themes, Symbols and Motifs in The Breadwinner
Themes
- Subjugation and Oppression of Women
- Education
- Literacy
- Freedom
- Oppression
- Suffering
- Misogyny
- War
- Family
- Hope
- Friendship
- Courage
- Gender Roles
- Poverty
- Death
- Depression
- Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress
- Refugees
Symbols
- Replanted flowers
- Parvana's red shalwar kameez that is for sale
- Hossain's clothes
- The bones
Motifs
- Fallen trinkets
- Nooria's and Parvana's fighting / sibling rivalry
- "Mount Parvana"
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: Identify recurring themes, symbols, or motifs found in The Breadwinner. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from The Breadwinner 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
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 Tos about The Breadwinner Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
Connect themes, symbols, and motifs to students’ real-life experiences
Ask students to relate a chosen theme, symbol, or motif from The Breadwinner to something in their own lives or community. This personal connection helps deepen understanding and makes literature more meaningful.
Guide students to brainstorm connections as a class
Lead a class discussion where students share examples from their lives or media that mirror the novel’s elements. Encourage everyone to contribute so all students see relevant, diverse connections.
Model making a personal connection aloud
Choose a theme, symbol, or motif and share your own story or observation related to it. Think aloud so students see the process of linking literature to life.
Assign students to illustrate and write about their connections
Have students draw a scene from their own lives that ties to the theme, symbol, or motif, and write a brief description explaining the connection. This supports creativity and reflection.
Share and discuss connections in small groups
Divide students into small groups to present their illustrations and stories. Encourage respectful listening and questions to deepen understanding of each other’s perspectives.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Breadwinner Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
What are the main themes in The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis?
The Breadwinner explores themes such as oppression of women, education, literacy, freedom, suffering, family, hope, courage, gender roles, poverty, trauma, and war. These themes highlight the struggles and resilience of Parvana and her family in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
How can I teach symbols and motifs from The Breadwinner in a middle school classroom?
Engage students by having them identify and illustrate symbols and motifs from the novel using activities like spider maps or envelope activities. Encourage them to connect each symbol or motif to characters and events, then describe their significance in their own words.
What are some examples of symbols in The Breadwinner?
Key symbols include the replanted flowers (hope and renewal), Parvana’s red shalwar kameez (identity and sacrifice), Hossain’s clothes (loss and memory), and the bones (survival and hardship).
What is an envelope activity for teaching literary themes?
An envelope activity involves giving students envelopes containing specific themes, symbols, or motifs to track as they read. This active approach helps students focus on recurring elements and makes analysis more interactive and engaging.
Why is it important for students to identify themes, symbols, and motifs in literature?
Recognizing themes, symbols, and motifs helps students deepen their understanding of a text, analyze characters’ motivations, and connect literature to real-world issues. It also develops critical thinking and interpretive skills.
More Storyboard That Activities
Breadwinner, The
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
