Exploring and emulating Galloway's use of symbols in ‘The Cellist of Sarajevo’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse the use of symbols in fiction and craft a symbol in my own writing.
Key learning points
- In narratives, objects can symbolise key themes or ideas.
- Galloway's key symbol is the cello which could represent hope, joy or defiance.
- You can craft a symbol in your own narrative through the use of an important object, colour, weather or event.
- Using adjectives to describe the object can help the symbol take on its intended meaning.
- The way in which a character treats or interacts with an object can help bring the meaning of your symbol to life.
Keywords
Symbol - something that represents intangible ideas; for example, a rose as a symbol for love
Defiance - behaviour in which you refuse to obey something or someone
Mundane - ordinary, everyday, or not special or exciting
Common misconception
Pupils may use objects to symbolise ideas but the object may not quite match the idea e.g. violence represented by a flower.
Thinking about the feelings that an object makes us feel might help us to decide whether it will be an appropriate symbolic object.
Teacher tip
Discuss objects that would not be effective in symbolising certain ideas to help students better craft their own writing.
Equipment
You will need access to the Chapter 1 of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' by Steven Galloway for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a symbol in narrative writing?
Q2.What might the colour red symbolise?
Q3.What symbol does the opening of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' focus on?
Q4.Which of the below sentences contains an adjective?
Q5.Which of the below is tangible?
Q6.Which of the below is an abstract idea?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the key symbol in the opening of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo'?
Q2.Match each symbol in 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' to the abstract idea it could represent.
normality, routine, control
violence, loss
love, family
Q3.What object would best symbolise sadness?
Q4.How might we describe a poppy if the poppy symbolises hope?
Q5.What can we do to craft our symbols effectively?
Q6.How might a soldier interact with a letter if the letter symbolises hope?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring and emulating Galloway's use of symbols in ‘The Cellist of Sarajevo’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring and emulating Galloway's use of symbols in ‘The Cellist of Sarajevo’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Fiction: read around the world unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.