Symbol and Motif Finder

This worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they explore symbolism and motif within a literary passage. Through close reading, abstract thinking, and evidence-based interpretation, students identify an object, image, or repeated detail-such as the candle associated with Mara-and analyze how it represents deeper ideas connected to character struggle and overall theme.

Skills Reinforced

• Symbolism & Motif Interpretation (Grades 5-6) – Identify symbols or recurring images and explain their representational meaning.
• Connecting Symbol to Theme – Analyze how a symbol contributes to the passage’s central message.
• Character Internal Conflict Analysis – Examine how imagery reflects a character’s emotional state or inner struggle.
• Evidence-Based Interpretation – Support symbolic interpretations with specific descriptive details from the text.

Instructional Support

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA standards.
• Guided Symbol Analysis – Prompts help students move from literal description to abstract meaning.
• Focus on Author’s Craft – Encourages attention to how writers use imagery to suggest ideas indirectly.
• Supports Abstract Thinking – Helps students practice interpreting figurative and representational meaning.
• Low-Prep Printable – Easy to use for classroom lessons, small groups, independent practice, or homeschool instruction.

This symbol and motif worksheet helps students deepen literary understanding by showing how authors communicate meaning beyond the surface level. By analyzing recurring imagery and connecting it to character emotions and theme, learners strengthen skills in close reading, interpretation, and evidence-based reasoning. It’s a thoughtful, skill-building resource that supports meaningful literary analysis in both classroom and homeschool settings.

This worksheet is part of our close reading passages worksheets collection.