Literary symbols can provide important clues about the theme of a story, and you have seen quite a few symbols so far in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. What symbols do you think are most important, and what do they tell you about the novel's themes? Take a close look at the two collages--click each image to see the entire collage. Each one includes images that represent a symbol in the novel along with other images that suggest a theme supported by the symbol. Can you tell which images serve each of these purposes?
Question
Where is the symbol placed in each collage? What about images suggesting the novel's themes or conflicts?
Turn It In!
Try creating your own thematic collage. Choose one of the symbols in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, and create a collage that reflects how the symbol relates to one of the novel's themes. The foreground of your collage should be the symbol, and the background should represent the theme that the symbol helps develop.
When you have completed your thematic collage, scan it or take a digital photo, and submit the image file or PDF to your teacher for a grade. Your work on this assignment will be graded using the rubric below.
| Points | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 5 | The image(s) you selected for the foreground of your collage illustrate an important symbol in the novel. |
| 5 | The images you selected for the background of your collage effectively represent a conflict or theme in the novel. |
| 5 | The images in the foreground and background of your collage work together well to communicate one of the major themes in the novel. |
