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WorksheetsSymbolism, motifs, and themes
Total questions: 105
Worksheet time: 3hrs 38mins
In the movie "Snow White," the witch tries to sell Snow White an apple and says, "One bite and all your dreams will come true." In this story, the apple most likely symbolizes...
Love
War
Temptation
Peace
In the movie "Snow White," the witch tries to sell Snow White an apple and says, "One bite and all your dreams will come true." In this story, the apple most likely symbolizes...
Love
War
Temptation
Peace
In this picture a student is giving an apple to a teacher. What does the apple symbolize in this photo?
Gratitude
Hate
Apples
Good luck
What is the difference in the symbol of the apple between the "Snow White" image and the teacher / student image?
The meaning of the apple stayed the same. It was still a symbol.
The meaning of the apple changed because the context stayed the same in both pictures.
The meaning of the apple changed because the context of how it was used changed. In Snow White it was negative, in the teacher / student image it was positive.
The meaning of the apple changed because for Snow White it was positive and for the teacher / student image, it was negative
The protagonist of a story is bored at school. She looks out the window and longingly watches a bird fly through the sky. What does the bird most likely symbolize?
freedom
knowledge
danger
re-birth
After struggling through a hard life, in the last chapter of a story the protagonist is twirling around on a spring day surrounded by newly budding trees and blooming flowers. This description of the setting most likely symbolizes...
sadness
royalty
a new beginning
a wealthy future
Ana spent an unhappy night tossing and turning on her bed. The day before, a misstep had caused her to lose the volleyball match. As she sat up in bed the next morning, she could see the sun just peeking over the bushes in her back yard. As the sun rose higher and shined more brightly, Ana felt her spirits lifting. Feeling her confidence return, Ana thought to herself, I know I can work harder, and I'll make the team forget yesterday ever happened.
In this passage, the rising sun symbolizes..
it's morning
volleyball
a second chance
a sleepless night
After a big fight with her parents, Mirah decided to run away from home. She put some essentials in her backpack and then ran and ran, until she was so far from town that she found herself in the desert. As she stopped to rest and sip from her water bottle, Mirah realized she had forgotten to say goodbye to her two best friends and her pet puppy. All the way out here, she wouldn't be able to rant to anyone about her annoying family. Mirah sat down and noticed the sand dunes extending far into the horizon in every direction. She sighed, curled up into a ball, and cried.
What does the desert symbolize in this story?
courage and strength
isolation and loneliness
adventure
sadness
Sonia woke up with a smile on her face because she knew it would be a special day. Today was the day of the big ceremony: it was her 16th birthday, which meant her mother would give her the silver spoon that had been passed down in her family for generations. She quickly put on the dress she had picked out the night before and ran down the stairs. "I'm ready!" she declared.
Which of the following is a symbol in this story?
Sonia's dress
the silver spoon
Sonia's mother
the stairs
Which bird symbolizes peace and tranquility?
What can water symbolize?
Liquid
Purity
Good luck
Anger
Demons do NOT symbolize ______________
Addictions
Internal struggles
Weaknesses
Protection
A well-known symbol that has been handed down over time; public symbols; universal symbols
Inherited Symbol
Invented Symbol
Ambiguity
Verbal Irony
Taking a new object, character, or event and making it the embodiment of some human concern by attaching meaning to it
Invented Symbol
Inherited Symbol
Rising Action
Falling Action
A symbolic story in which the characters, setting and events stand for abstract or moral concepts
Allusion
Parable
Fable
Allegory
An illustrator draws a picture of darkness around the main character. The darkness represents a problem that the character may be facing. What could this problem be?
night
calm
death
freedom
On their wedding day, the groom gave his bride a bouquet of red roses. What do the red roses symbolize?
his love for his bride
her favorite flower
life
power
The writer describes darkness in the setting with the main character. What is the a problem that the character may be facing?
night
calm
death
freedom
Which animal symbolizes wisdom and knowledge?
Mouse
Rabbit
Owl
Monkey
What is symbolism in literature?
Something that is used to represent an idea or quality.
A picture that means exactly what it is.
A symbol.
I am Groot.
Which of the following symbols might represent a fresh start?
A dove
A shovel
A rainbow
some gold
What is symbolism in literature?
Something that is used to represent an idea or quality.
A picture that means exactly what it is.
A symbol.
I am Groot.
Which of the following symbols might represent a fresh start?
A dove
A shovel
A rainbow
some gold
Which of the following symbols might represent a broken relationship?
A Siberian Tiger
Shattered glass
Fire
Stars
Why do authors and story-tellers use symbols?
To add interest to a literature
They lighten the tone of literature
to convey something that adds deeper meaning
To confuse the reader
Sunrise often symbolizes...
Hopes and dreams
A new beginning
The end of time
Death
Evan woke early feeling curiously light; the lightest he had felt since Leila’s death. Drawn by the early morning light, he pulled on his boots and set out for a walk. It rained in the night, so he tramped through the mud and strayed off the path to squat down and examine a curl of pale green plant shoving its way up out from under the earth that caught his eye.
What is the SYMBOL in the story?
the rain
the boots
the plant
Evan woke early feeling curiously light; the lightest he had felt since Leila’s death. Drawn by the early morning light, he pulled on his boots and set out for a walk. It rained in the night, so he tramped through the mud and strayed off the path to squat down and examine a curl of pale green plant shoving its way up out from under the earth that caught his eye.
What does the PLANT symbolize?
Start of new life and moving on after the death.
A plant struggling to grow.
Plants needing water to survive.
Mary tried to concentrate on the excuses Demetrius was making as he was going on and on in circles, but she was distracted when a small spider suddenly dropped from the ceiling on a thread of web. He hung there in the air for a moment, swinging back and forth just over Demetrius’ left shoulder. Demetrius continued to explain himself. Mary, rolling her eyes, half listening because she didn't believe him, as she watched the spider fasten one end of his thread to the door frame and set off once again through the air, beginning to build his web.
What is the SYMBOL in the story?
Mary's elbow
the spider
the ceiling
Mary tried to concentrate on the excuses Demetrius was making as he was going on and on in circles, but she was distracted when a small spider suddenly dropped from the ceiling on a thread of web. He hung there in the air for a moment, swinging back and forth just over Demetrius’ left shoulder. Demetrius continued to explain himself. Mary, rolling her eyes, half listening because she didn't believe him, as she watched the spider fasten one end of his thread to the door frame and set off once again through the air, beginning to build his web.
What does the SPIDER symbolize?
Mary being easily distracted.
The "web of lies" that Demetrius is "spinning".
Art and creativity as the spider builds his web.
A symbol is...
a representation of an idea
an idea that is repeated
a symbol
a motif
A motif is...
a representation of an idea
an idea that is repeated
a symbol
a motif
A bird in a cage is...
a representation of an idea
an idea that is repeated
a symbol
a motif
Friendship is...
a representation of an idea
an idea that is repeated
a symbol
a motif
Mark any of the following terms that are motifs.
a child
family
teamwork
anger
volcanoes
Heroism
Theme
Moral
Motif
Main Idea
Motifs are meant to...
draw the reader's attention away from something specific in a text.
draw the reader's attention to something specific in a text.
catch the reader's attention to keep them engaged in reading the text
to make a text more realistic in nature.
Motifs can highlight something specific about a character to ...
to establish the mood of the text
to help the reader better understand a specific character
to help the reader better understand a character and/or establish the mood of the text.
to help the reader identify the minor vs major characters in a story
Symbol and Motif all help to determine the ... of a story
plot
climax
theme
setting
Symbols and Motifs are connected because
they are the same
a symbol can represent a symbol
a symbol can represent a motif
a motif is repeated often like a symbol is repeated often
Motifs can help us more easily identify or understand the (a) of a story.
What is the definition of motif?
A type of theme
An item that represents something else
A repeated pattern or image found within a text
A recurring pattern found in the world
Which of the following statements is true?
Motifs are usually obvious to spot in a story
Motifs are usually one word
A repeated quote can be an example of a motif
Both B and C
Which of the following answer choices is an example of a motif?
Courage
Never give up
Work hard to achieve your goals
Always do the right thing
What is theme?
The main idea of the text
A symbol of something within the story
the message or lesson the author want you to learn from the story
None of the above
How is a motif different from a symbol?
For something to be a motif, it must repeat throughout the story, whereas a symbol doesn't have to
Something not important to the text
something distinct in literature
None of the above
True or false: A motif can be a symbol that repeats itself, but it can also be an idea, phrase, or concept that repeats
True
False
Which of these could be a symbol but NOT a motif?
A character repeatedly saying "life ain't fair"
A character always showing up in black
A dove that appears once in a story
The American Dream
True or False: Motifs are always hidden in the story
True
False
Choose the correct effect of the mirror motif in Snow White:
It's a motif because it repeatedly comes up in the story
It represents the honest truth, and emphasizes just how hard it is for the queen to accept that she's no longer the most beautiful
It highlights the idea that lying to yourself and others is the best course of action
What does a heart typically symbolize?
Love
Hunger
Anger
Fear
How many teeth does a snail have?
None
26
78
1,000+
A motif is:
The message of the story
A recurring image or idea that takes on a figurative meaning
The plot of a story
The setting of a story
Which of the following could be a motif?
thunderstorms
short sentences
repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
A motif is:
The message of the story
A recurring image or idea that takes on a figurative meaning
The plot of a story
The setting of a story
Which of the following could be a motif?
thunderstorms
short sentences
repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
Which of the following is always a characteristic of motifs?
They are comedic
They are recurring
They are serious
None of the above
What is the relationship between motif and theme ( More than one option is possible.)?
themes are a type of motif
motifs are a type of theme
motifs emphasize themes
themes emphasize motifs
Which is a characteristic of motif?
They are always funny
They only happen at the end of the story
They always mention death
They happen throughout the plot
A motif in Peter Pan is (More than one option is possible.) :
Pirate ships
Growing up
London, England
Which of the following statements is true?
( More than one option is possible.)
Motifs are usually obvious to spot in a story
Motifs are usually one word
A repeated quote can be an example of a motif
None of the above.
An implied comparison between two unlike things that have something important in common
simile
metaphor
allusion
onomatopoeia
Giving inanimate objects human characteristics
hyperbole
symbole
mood
personification
A device where the speaker refers to something that the reader needs prior knowledge of or experience with in order to understand.
apostrophe
allusion
allegory
antonym
An implied comparison between two unlike things that have something important in common
simile
metaphor
allusion
onomatopoeia
Giving inanimate objects human characteristics
hyperbole
symbole
mood
personification
A device where the speaker refers to something that the reader needs prior knowledge of or experience with in order to understand.
apostrophe
allusion
allegory
antonym
A device where the author chooses nouns, adjectives, or verbs that paint a strong mental picture and often have layers of meaning.
onomatopoeia
extended metaphor
theme
vivid word choice
The author’s attitude toward his or her subject.
theme
tone
mood
allusion
A concrete object that stands in for an abstract idea.
symbol
simile
mood
theme
The author’s message about the nature of the human condition.
theme
mood
symbol
juxtaposition
The vantage point from which a story is told.
juxtapostion
allusion
point of view
tone
An exaggeration for dramatic effect.
metaphor
simile
allusion
hyperbole
The atmosphere created in a work of literature by word choice.
mood
tone
theme
symbol
The street cars are like frosted cakes covered with snowflakes.
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Alliteration
The west wind dances down the road.
Simile
Personification
Hyperbole
Alliteration
The band played to a small crowd at the concert.
Personification
Simile
Metaphor
Oxymoron
She’s as tiny as a mouse.
Metaphor
Alliteration
Simile
Oxymoron
Her blonde hair shined like the sun.
Alliteration
Metaphor
Simile
Hyperbole
The lightweight fighter lost so much weight, he looked as thin as a rail.
Metaphor
Simile
Hyperbole
Onomatopeia
Polly Peters positively played Ping-Pong.
Alliteration
Onomatopeia
Simile
Personification
When the pitcher finished nine innings, he was hungry enough to eat a horse.
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
Simile
Metaphor
“Crack” went the bat as the pitcher hit a home run.
Simile
Metaphor
Onomatopeia
Alliteration
The ice in the arena was as smooth as glass.
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Simile
Oxymoron
The kite drank the wind and laughed across the sky.
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Oxymoron
The trophy glistened like gold in the sun during the awards ceremony.
Metaphor
Simile
Alliteration
Oxymoron
Happy Harry handles handsprings horribly.
Oxymoron
Metaphor
Simile
Alliteration
The hockey player lost his control when the puck ran across the ice.
Oxymoron
Personification
Simile
Metaphor
The snow on the ski hill was powdered sugar.
Simile
Hyperbole
Metaphor
Oxymoron
The coach was as upset as a lion when his team lost the game.
Oxymoron
Simile
Alliteration
Hyperbole
Freddy French fired five fabulous free throws.
Simile
Alliteration
Metaphor
Oxymoron
The snowmobile was a rocket in the newly fallen snow.
Simile
Metaphor
Oxymoron
Hyperbole
I’d catch a grenade for you.
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Alliteration
