Symbolism in Literature

Overview

Duration: 60 minutes
Class size: 1 student
Unit: Exploring Literary Themes (Lesson 4 of 20)
National Curriculum Reference:

KS4 English Literature – Reading (Year 10)
Pupils should be taught to:
- Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.
- Make comparisons within and across texts.
- Develop an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

Understand and define symbolism and its purpose in literature.
Identify at least two symbols within a chosen literary text.
Explain the thematic significance of these symbols in contributing to the overall meaning of the text.

National Curriculum Links:

English programmes of study for key stage 4: English Literature – Analyse how language, form and structure contribute to meanings and effects.
Develop personal responses supported by textual references.

Success Criteria

I can define symbolism and describe its role in literature.
I can identify at least two symbols in the text.
I can explain how each symbol contributes to the theme of the text clearly and with evidence.

Resources

Printed copy of an extract from a literary text rich in symbolism (e.g., Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck or Macbeth by William Shakespeare).
Notebook or digital device for notes and responses.
Whiteboard or paper for mind-mapping symbols and themes.
Visual aids: images representing common literary symbols to stimulate thinking.

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and introduce the concept of symbolism.

Discuss briefly what students already know about literary devices.
Present a simple, everyday example of symbolism (e.g., a red rose symbolising love).
Show images of common symbols (e.g., a dove, a storm, light/darkness) and ask the student to suggest what they might represent.
Teacher notes: Encourage open-ended thinking and use guided questions to deepen understanding, e.g. “Why do you think authors use symbols instead of stating things directly?”

2. Direct Teaching (15 minutes)

Objective: Define symbolism clearly and explain its role.

Provide a formal definition of symbolism in literature.
Explain the difference between a symbol and a motif with examples.
Introduce the chosen text excerpt for the day, highlighting the context briefly.
Read through the excerpt together, annotating possible symbolic elements.
Use subject terminology from the National Curriculum: symbolism, motif, theme, connotation.

3. Guided Practice (15 minutes)

Objective: Identify symbols and link them to themes in the text.

Work collaboratively (teacher-student dialogue) to pinpoint at least two symbols within the text.
Create a mind map linking these symbols to the overarching theme(s) present in the extract.
Discuss the connotations of each symbol and why the author might have chosen these particular images or objects.
Prompt questions:
- “How does this symbol help you understand the character’s feelings or the story’s message?”
- “Can you see a connection between this symbol and the theme of the text?”

4. Independent Activity (15 minutes)

Objective: Student independently explains symbols and their thematic significance.

Student writes a short paragraph for each symbol explaining:
- What the symbol is.
- How it appears in the text.
- What theme it represents or supports.
- Evidence from the extract supporting these points.
Teacher provides scaffolding by asking probing questions or suggesting sentence starters if needed.

5. Plenary and Assessment (5 minutes)

Objective: Review learning and assess understanding.

Student verbally summarises what they learned about symbolism.
Teacher checks success criteria:
- Can the student confidently define symbolism?
- Has the student identified and explained two symbols clearly?
Teacher provides concise, positive feedback and next steps for the following lesson.

Differentiation and Personalisation

One-to-one setting allows full tailoring to student’s reading level and interest.
If the student struggles with abstract concepts, use more concrete symbols or relate to visual or real-world examples.
Challenge student to think beyond surface meanings if ready by exploring multiple layers of symbolism.

Cross-Curricular Links

Art: Discuss the use of symbolism in visual arts to enrich understanding.
History: Reference period context of the text to deepen comprehension of symbolic meaning.

Reflection and Next Steps

Encourage the student to notice symbols in other reading materials.
Suggest keeping a ‘Symbolism Journal’ for the unit to track recurring themes and symbols across texts.
Prepare for next lesson: comparing symbolic use across two different texts focusing on contrasts in portrayal.

End of Lesson 4

Teaching Instructions