Symbolism Study

This symbolism study worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they build literary analysis, inferential reading, and critical interpretation skills through Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. By matching important symbols to their deeper meanings, learners explore how concrete objects convey abstract ideas such as greed, hope, responsibility, and redemption within a classic text.

Learning Goals

• Understanding Symbolism (Grades 5-7): Students identify key symbols like Marley’s chains and Tiny Tim’s crutch and connect them to their symbolic meanings.
• Figurative & Inferential Reading: Learners interpret how physical objects represent moral and emotional ideas.
• Theme & Message Analysis: Students analyze how symbolism supports Dickens’s messages about compassion, social justice, and personal change.
• Literary Interpretation Skills: Learners practice moving beyond literal meaning to deeper textual understanding.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource: Designed by educators to align with upper elementary and middle school ELA standards.
• Clear Matching Format: Helps students organize thinking and make direct connections between symbol and meaning.
• Builds Foundational Literary Skills: Prepares students for more advanced analysis of figurative language.
• Flexible Use: Suitable for guided reading, independent work, review activities, or homeschool instruction.

This symbolism study worksheet helps students develop confidence in analyzing literary devices and interpreting deeper meaning in classic literature. By connecting symbols to themes and moral ideas, learners strengthen comprehension, critical thinking, and interpretive reasoning. Whether used in a classroom or homeschool setting, this printable activity offers a clear, engaging way to explore symbolism and theme in A Christmas Carol.

This worksheet is part of our A Christmas Carol collection.