Grade 6 · Reading · Lesson 12

Identify and analyze symbolism

A symbol is an object, person, place, color, or event that stands for something beyond its literal self. Authors plant symbols deliberately: a single carefully chosen image can carry layers of meaning that resonate throughout an entire story, poem, or essay. Learning to spot and analyze symbols moves you from reading the surface of a text to reading its depths.

What this lesson teaches

1Identify symbols in a literary text and distinguish them from their literal meaning
2Analyze how an author uses a symbol to convey a deeper theme or idea
3Match common literary symbols to their widely recognized meanings
4Explain the symbolic significance of an object using evidence from the text

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