Activity Overview
There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout the novel The Girl Who Drank The Moon. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs 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 Girl Who Drank The Moon
- sorrow vs. hope
- forgetting
- power vs inequality
- family and love
- storytelling
- censorship
- memory
- cloudiness, fog and sunshine
- light vs. darkness
- The Bog as a symbol for the creation of life
- knowledge vs. ignorance
- life and death
- Fyrian's size
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 Girl Who Drank The Moon. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from The Girl Who Drank The Moon 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 Girl Who Drank The Moon. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs 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 Girl Who Drank The Moon
- sorrow vs. hope
- forgetting
- power vs inequality
- family and love
- storytelling
- censorship
- memory
- cloudiness, fog and sunshine
- light vs. darkness
- The Bog as a symbol for the creation of life
- knowledge vs. ignorance
- life and death
- Fyrian's size
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 Girl Who Drank The Moon. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from The Girl Who Drank The Moon 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 Girl Who Drank the Moon: Themes, Symbols, & Motifs
Integrate theme, symbol, and motif analysis into class discussions
Boost engagement by weaving analysis of themes, symbols, and motifs into daily classroom conversations. Ask students to share their observations during read-alouds or after independent reading, prompting them with questions like, “What recurring ideas did you spot?” or “Why do you think this symbol keeps appearing?” This approach makes literary analysis feel natural and collaborative.
Use graphic organizers for deeper literary analysis
Give students visual tools like Venn diagrams or T-charts to compare and contrast different themes, symbols, and motifs. Let them organize their findings, helping them recognize patterns and deepen their understanding of the text. Graphic organizers make abstract concepts more concrete and accessible.
Encourage creative projects to demonstrate understanding
Assign creative options such as posters, dioramas, or digital presentations where students illustrate and explain a chosen theme, symbol, or motif. This lets students show comprehension in a hands-on way, catering to different learning styles and making the analysis memorable.
Facilitate peer sharing and feedback sessions
Organize small group or partner sessions where students present their analysis and visuals to peers. Encourage classmates to ask questions or provide feedback, fostering a collaborative learning environment and refining each student’s critical thinking skills.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Girl Who Drank the Moon: Themes, Symbols, & Motifs
What are the main themes in The Girl Who Drank the Moon?
The Girl Who Drank the Moon explores major themes such as sorrow vs. hope, family and love, power vs. inequality, storytelling, and the contrast between light and darkness. These themes highlight character growth and the importance of remembering, empathy, and resilience.
How can I teach themes, symbols, and motifs from The Girl Who Drank the Moon in a middle school classroom?
Use activities like spider mapping, envelope activities (tracking assigned elements), and storyboard creation to help students identify and illustrate themes, symbols, and motifs. Encourage students to provide examples from the text and explain their significance.
What are some examples of symbols and motifs in The Girl Who Drank the Moon?
Symbols and motifs include The Bog (creation of life), cloudiness, fog, and sunshine (confusion vs. clarity), light vs. darkness, Fyrian's size, and memory and forgetting. Each represents deeper meanings tied to the story's messages.
Why is storytelling important in The Girl Who Drank the Moon?
Storytelling shapes the characters' beliefs and decisions, passing down knowledge and challenging censorship. The novel shows how stories can both hide and reveal the truth, impacting the community’s understanding of hope and sorrow.
What is an easy lesson plan for analyzing themes and symbols in The Girl Who Drank the Moon?
Assign students to pick a theme, symbol, or motif, find supporting examples in the book, and create a storyboard with images and short descriptions. This visual approach helps deepen understanding and supports diverse learning styles.
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