Metaphor and Symbolism

Active learning helps students grasp metaphor and symbolism because these concepts demand interpretation rather than memorization. When students manipulate objects, discuss ideas, and create their own examples, they move beyond surface-level understanding to see how abstract ideas take shape in concrete forms.

• Grade 7
• Language Arts
• 3 activities
• 20 min–40 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how specific concrete objects in poems function as symbols for abstract concepts.
2. Explain how an extended metaphor clarifies a complex or difficult idea for a reader.
3. Compare and contrast the symbolic meanings of a single object across two different poems.
4. Create an original poem that uses at least one extended metaphor or two distinct symbols to represent an abstract idea.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Symbolism Suitcase

Groups are given a 'suitcase' of physical objects (e.g., a compass, a wilted flower, a key). They must brainstorm at least three abstract ideas each object could represent in a story and present their 'symbolic map' to the class.

Prepare & details

Explain how an extended metaphor clarifies a difficult concept for the reader.

Facilitation Tip: During the Symbolism Suitcase, circulate and ask groups to explain why they chose specific objects before revealing their abstract ideas.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Metaphor Makeover

Students take a boring, literal sentence (e.g., 'He was very angry') and work with a partner to turn it into a powerful metaphor (e.g., 'His anger was a dormant volcano, ready to coat the room in ash').

Prepare & details

Differentiate between a symbol and a simple description in a poem.

Facilitation Tip: For the Metaphor Makeover, provide sentence stems like 'This metaphor shows ____ because ____' to guide students' explanations.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Gallery Walk

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Gallery Walk: Visual Metaphors

Display famous paintings or photographs. Students circulate and identify one element in the image that they think is a symbol, explaining what it represents and why the artist might have included it.

Prepare & details

Analyze how a single object can carry different symbolic meanings across different poems.

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk, place a timer at each station to keep students moving and ensure they engage with every visual metaphor.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic by modeling your own thinking aloud as you decode symbols and metaphors in short texts. Avoid giving definitive answers about what symbols mean; instead, guide students to weigh evidence from the text. Research shows that students benefit from comparing multiple interpretations, so structure activities that require justification rather than agreement.

What to Expect

By the end of these activities, students will confidently explain how extended metaphors and symbols function in texts, support their interpretations with evidence, and recognize how context shapes meaning. They will also begin to critique the effectiveness of a writer’s or artist’s use of these devices.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Symbolism Suitcase, watch for students who assume an object’s meaning is fixed.

What to Teach Instead

Prompt groups to compare their interpretations of the same object and ask, 'What in the text made you think of that idea?' to highlight the role of context.

Common Misconception

During the Literal vs. Figurative Challenge, watch for students who dismiss metaphors as unnecessary.

What to Teach Instead

Have them rewrite the same idea literally and figuratively, then count the words and discuss which version conveys the meaning more vividly.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After the Symbolism Suitcase, give students a new object (e.g., a key). Ask them to identify one abstract idea it could represent and write one sentence explaining their reasoning using evidence from the activity.

Discussion Prompt

During the Metaphor Makeover, present two student-created metaphors for the same idea. Ask the class to discuss which metaphor is more effective and why, focusing on word choice and clarity.

Quick Check

After the Gallery Walk, display an image not included in the stations. Ask students to write down one abstract idea it could represent and briefly explain their connection, referencing techniques from the visual metaphors they analyzed.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to create a new metaphor for an abstract idea (e.g., 'loneliness') and write a short poem using it.
• For students who struggle, provide a word bank of abstract concepts and simple sentence frames to scaffold their explanations.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to research a cultural symbol (e.g., the phoenix) and compare its meanings across two different cultures or time periods.

Key Vocabulary

Metaphor	A figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, suggesting a resemblance. It states that one thing *is* another.
Extended Metaphor	A metaphor developed at length, occurring frequently throughout a piece of writing, where an author explores a single comparison in detail.
Symbol	An object, person, or idea that represents something else, often an abstract concept, beyond its literal meaning.
Concrete Object	Something that can be perceived by the senses, such as a tree, a house, or a bird, as opposed to an abstract idea like freedom or love.
Abstract Idea	A concept that is not concrete or tangible, such as courage, hope, or despair, which cannot be directly perceived by the senses.