Activity Overview
There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout the novel Wolf Hollow. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Wolf Hollow 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 Wolf Hollow
Themes
- war
- fuffering
- family
- friendship
- courage
- death
- trauma and post traumatic stress
- mental illness
- bullying
- morality
- cowardice
- groupthink / going along with the crowd
- bigotry
Symbols and Motifs
- Toby's camera and pictures
- Toby's hat
- Annabelle's piggy bank
- Toby's guns
- The barn
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 Wolf Hollow. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from Wolf Hollow 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 Wolf Hollow. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Wolf Hollow 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 Wolf Hollow
Themes
- war
- fuffering
- family
- friendship
- courage
- death
- trauma and post traumatic stress
- mental illness
- bullying
- morality
- cowardice
- groupthink / going along with the crowd
- bigotry
Symbols and Motifs
- Toby's camera and pictures
- Toby's hat
- Annabelle's piggy bank
- Toby's guns
- The barn
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 Wolf Hollow. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes, symbols, or motifs from Wolf Hollow 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 Wolf Hollow Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
Plan a collaborative class discussion on themes and symbols
Invite students to share their ideas about Wolf Hollow in a group setting. Encourage respectful listening and open-ended questions for deeper understanding. This builds a sense of community and helps students connect their interpretations to those of their peers.
Assign each student or group a theme, symbol, or motif to track
Distribute different elements from the story among students or groups. Challenge them to find examples as they read. This strategy ensures every student is actively engaged and responsible for bringing new insights to the class discussion.
Guide students to record evidence with sticky notes or journals
Ask students to jot down page numbers, quotes, or scenes that relate to their assigned theme, symbol, or motif. Remind them to explain why their example matters. This routine boosts reading comprehension and makes it easier to share findings later.
Facilitate creative presentations using spider maps
Show students how to organize their findings in a spider map, connecting examples to the central theme, symbol, or motif. Encourage creativity—drawings, colors, and keywords help make the connections visual and memorable.
Reflect together on how themes and symbols shape the story
Lead a whole-class reflection, asking students how the identified elements influence characters, plot, and reader emotions. Highlight the importance of literary devices in deepening understanding of the novel’s message.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wolf Hollow Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
What are the main themes in Wolf Hollow?
Wolf Hollow explores key themes such as war, suffering, family, friendship, courage, death, trauma, mental illness, bullying, morality, cowardice, groupthink, and bigotry. These themes help students discuss important social and emotional issues present in the story.
How can I teach Wolf Hollow’s symbols and motifs to middle school students?
A practical way to teach symbols and motifs in Wolf Hollow is to have students track recurring objects and ideas—like Toby’s camera, Annabelle’s piggy bank, or the barn—throughout the novel and discuss their deeper meanings using visual aids, such as spider maps or storyboards.
What is an envelope activity for identifying themes in Wolf Hollow?
An envelope activity involves giving students envelopes containing specific themes, symbols, or motifs to look for as they read Wolf Hollow. This method encourages focused reading and group discussion while making theme identification interactive and engaging.
Can you provide examples of symbols in Wolf Hollow and their meanings?
Symbols in Wolf Hollow include Toby’s camera (his perspective and memories), Annabelle’s piggy bank (innocence and loss), and Toby’s hat (identity and comfort). Each symbol represents deeper themes related to the characters’ experiences.
What is a spider map activity for Wolf Hollow themes?
A spider map activity invites students to visually organize and illustrate different themes, symbols, and motifs from Wolf Hollow using a central idea with connecting branches, helping them see relationships and examples from the text.
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