Symbols come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify symbols from the poem to enrich their analysis. Have students choose an object or image from the poem to depict. Then ask them to use a text box below each image to explain its significance.
The speaker's polished shoes symbolize the father's kindness toward his son as he thanklessly works to make his life easier. The shoes also suggest the son's more sophisticated lifestyle. His father works hard so the son may lead a more comfortable and privileged life.
Fire drives out cold, just as love conquers indifference. The fire that the father builds is both a literal and symbolic act of love. Getting up in the cold to warm his family requires selfless love. As a representation of warmth, cheer, and community, the fire is also a symbolic reminder that the speaker’s home was filled with love.
The external cold of the winter symbolizes the coldness in the son's relationship with his father. As a child, the speaker does not recognize his father's love because it does not take the form of cheer and loving words. The cold interior of the house suggests that the family struggles to express love.
The father's cracked hands are a sign of the hard work he labors at day in and day out. This work helps support his son, making the cracked hands a sign of the father's loving sacrifice.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in “Those Winter Sundays”. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.