Day 53: Teaching Symbolism in Literature Lesson Plan

ByDylan Callens

Help students move beyond what happens in a novel and begin asking what details mean. In Day 53 of the Grade 9 English course, this teaching symbolism in literature lesson gives students a practical way to recognize repeated objects, images, contrasts, and sensory details, then connect those patterns to character development and emerging themes. A short compound-sentence grammar review is followed by sustained reading and an individual symbolism analysis that works with almost any novel.

75 Minutes | Key Concepts: Symbolism, Imagery, Theme, Text Evidence, Compound Sentences, Literature Circles

Learning Goals and Standards

Students will:

  • Identify possible symbols and recurring images in a literary text.
  • Distinguish between a literal detail and a symbolic interpretation.
  • Explain how imagery can strengthen the emotional or thematic meaning of a symbol.
  • Use patterns, repetition, contrast, and context to support an interpretation.
  • Support ideas with specific evidence from a novel.
  • Write thoughtful analytical responses using clear compound sentences.

Symbolism becomes much easier for Grade 9 students when it is taught as a process of noticing patterns and making evidence-based interpretations rather than guessing at a hidden “correct” answer.

Ontario Curriculum Connections (ENL1W)

  • A1.2 Reading for Meaning — use strategies to understand increasingly complex literary texts.
  • A1.6 Extending Understanding of Texts — make connections and develop interpretations based on textual evidence.
  • B1.2 Reading Comprehension — analyze how literary elements and author choices contribute to meaning.
  • A3.2 Critical Thinking — develop and support interpretations using evidence.
  • B2.1 Language Conventions — apply sentence structures and conventions accurately in writing.

Common Core (Grades 9–10)

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1 — cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2 — determine a theme or central idea and analyze its development.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4 — determine the meaning and impact of words and phrases, including figurative language.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.5 — demonstrate understanding of figurative language and nuances in meaning.

IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)

  • Thinking skills through pattern recognition and interpretation.
  • Communication skills through evidence-based literary analysis.
  • Reflection skills through considering multiple possible meanings.

Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

  • Analyze how writers use imagery and symbolism to create meaning.
  • Explain the effects of language and recurring details.
  • Support interpretations with relevant textual evidence.

OECD Global Competence Framework

  • Interpret multiple perspectives and possible meanings.
  • Communicate reasoned interpretations.
  • Use evidence to support thoughtful conclusions.

Resources for Teaching Symbolism in Literature

Bell Ringer

Display this question before students begin reading:

If an author mentions the same object, colour, place, or image several times, when should a reader start wondering whether it means more than it literally appears to mean?

Follow with two quick prompts:

  • Can the same object symbolize different things in different stories?
  • What makes a symbolic interpretation convincing instead of random?

Use the discussion to establish the key idea for the lesson: a strong interpretation is supported by patterns, context, and evidence.

Lesson Flow

1. Silent Reading – Novel Study (20 Minutes)

Students read independently from their current novel. Ask them to stay alert for details that seem unusually noticeable or repeated, including:

  • objects that appear more than once
  • colours, weather, light, darkness, or sounds that stand out
  • settings that seem emotionally important
  • images connected repeatedly to a particular character
  • contrasts such as warmth/cold, freedom/confinement, silence/noise, or order/chaos

Students can flag one or two examples as they read, but the goal is still sustained reading rather than constant note-taking.

2. Compound Sentences Mini-Lesson (10 Minutes)

Briefly review compound sentences. A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined correctly, often with a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, yet, so.

Connect the grammar directly to literary analysis:

The rain appears whenever the character feels trapped, and it may symbolize the pressure building around her.

Students do not need a full grammar worksheet during this lesson unless extra practice is useful. The linked compound sentences lesson can be used for additional instruction or review.

3. Mini-Lesson: What Is Symbolism? (10 Minutes)

Explain symbolism in student-friendly language:

A symbol is a concrete object, image, place, action, or detail that can represent a larger idea.

Use simple, non-text-specific examples:

  • a locked door could represent restriction or secrecy
  • a journey could represent growth or change
  • light could represent hope, safety, knowledge, or truth
  • a damaged object could reflect a damaged relationship

Stress that symbols are not universal rules. Light does not always mean hope, and darkness does not always mean danger. Students must look at how the detail is used in that particular text.

4. Connect Symbolism and Imagery (10 Minutes)

Review imagery as sensory language that appeals to sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch. Explain that imagery often makes a symbol more noticeable because the author gives the detail extra descriptive attention.

Model the thinking process with a generic example:

  1. Notice: The author repeatedly describes a cracked window.
  2. Track: The window appears during family conflict.
  3. Interpret: The crack may symbolize a relationship that is beginning to break apart.
  4. Support: Point to repeated moments from the text that make the interpretation reasonable.

This process gives students a repeatable strategy: notice → track → interpret → support.

5. Individual Task: Symbolism and Imagery Analysis (20 Minutes)

Students choose one possible symbol or recurring image from their novel and respond to the following prompts:

  1. What object, image, colour, place, action, or contrast keeps appearing or seems especially important?
  2. Where does it appear? Record at least one quotation or specific example with a page number.
  3. What does the detail mean literally in the scene?
  4. What larger idea might it represent?
  5. What pattern, character connection, or repeated context supports your interpretation?
  6. How does the author’s imagery make this detail more noticeable or meaningful?
  7. How might the symbol connect to an emerging theme in the novel?

Ask students to write at least one compound sentence in their explanation. The goal is not to find the teacher’s answer; it is to make a defensible interpretation.

6. Exit Ticket (5 Minutes)

Students complete one sentence before leaving:

A detail becomes a convincing symbol when ____________________, because ____________________.

This quick response shows whether students understand that symbolism depends on evidence and context rather than guesswork.

First-Hand Suggestions

Students often think symbolism is a guessing game, especially if they have previously been told that a particular colour or object always has one fixed meaning. I’ve found that the lesson becomes much more successful when I repeatedly ask, “What makes you think that?” If students can point to repetition, context, character reactions, contrast, or strong imagery, they usually begin to understand that literary interpretation is less about discovering a secret answer and more about building a reasonable case from evidence.

Differentiation for Teaching Symbolism

Support Strategies

  • Provide a simple “literal meaning / possible symbolic meaning / evidence” organizer.
  • Model one example as a class before students work independently.
  • Allow students to choose from a short list of recurring objects or images they have already noticed.
  • Use sticky notes to mark repeated details instead of requiring lengthy notes while reading.
  • Let students discuss a possible symbol with a partner before writing.

Support for English Language Learners

Pre-teach key vocabulary:

  • symbol
  • symbolism
  • imagery
  • literal
  • represent
  • pattern
  • theme

Helpful sentence starters:

  • “The _____ may symbolize _____ because…”
  • “This detail appears when…”
  • “The author draws attention to _____ by…”
  • “This symbol may connect to the theme of…”

Alternative Demonstration Options

Students may:

  • explain a symbol orally to the teacher
  • create a visual symbol map
  • use a three-column organizer instead of a paragraph
  • record a short audio explanation with one piece of text evidence

Extension Opportunities

Students ready for enrichment can:

  • track how a symbol changes meaning over the course of the novel
  • compare two symbols that develop the same theme
  • analyze a symbol that can support more than one interpretation
  • explain how imagery, setting, and symbolism work together in one passage

Teaching Symbolism in Literature FAQ

How do you teach symbolism without encouraging students to guess?
Teach students to build interpretations from patterns. Ask where a detail appears, what is happening when it appears, whether it repeats, and what evidence connects it to a larger idea. A symbolic interpretation should be arguable but supported.

What is the difference between symbolism and imagery?
Imagery is sensory language that helps a reader picture or experience a scene. Symbolism occurs when a concrete detail represents a larger idea. Imagery can strengthen symbolism by drawing attention to a meaningful object or pattern.

Can a symbol have more than one meaning?
Yes. Strong literary symbols can support different interpretations, especially as a story develops. Students should evaluate which interpretation is best supported by the text.

Why pair compound sentences with symbolism analysis?
Compound sentences help students connect an observation with an interpretation or piece of evidence, which makes them useful for concise analytical writing.

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