The Sword of Shannara

Symbolism is when concrete things are used to represent, substitute, or parallel abstract ideas or themes. Authors can use symbolism to solidify the characters’ lives and background. Symbolism is often open to interpretation, as it is what the reader believes an object represents. Symbols are commonly used to show larger themes that run throughout the story. Objects for symbolism can be people, places, or things. In Terry Brooks’s The Sword of Shannara, the forest is used as a symbol of fear, mysteriousness, and/or death. So far, the party to retrieve the Sword of Shannara has disintegrated, and the protagonist is lost. The story still keeps track of all of the characters, even though it has disassembled. Most recently, Menion Leah, or the Prince of Leah, rescued…

Another student noted, “The quizzes are either way too easy or way too hard.” Still another commented, “I read some of the quiz questions and think ‘who cares’?’” An elementary student noted that the quizzes asked for details that were not important to the story and were designed to trick you. Students also noted that often two answers seemed like good choices. This phenomenon led Grade 5 students to say, “The ‘thoughtful reader strategies’ we learn about during reading class don’t help you on…