Symbolism can be hard to teach. It’s one of those things you understand, but can’t easily put words to. When I try to define “symbolism” I find myself grasping for examples rather than definitions. In literature symbols are recurring objects that represent something (idea, emotion, truth) beyond themselves.
Of course that may not mean much to students without some examples. In The Girl Who Drank the Moon there are several symbols that could garner a good discussion of symbolism. The ones I’ve chosen to focus on are paper, birds, and tigers.
Symbol #1: Paper
Paper comes up a lot in the book. Here are some examples:
- The Madwoman: Locked in a tower where she is denied everything, the madwoman has inexplicable access to a never ending supply of paper. The paper appears when she wants it. Every day her cell is swept clean of paper, and every day she is somehow able to refill it. She uses paper primarily to create paper birds and draw maps.
- Xan: Xan is a scholar, both now and in her youth. She uses books to help her figure out how to control Luna’s dangerous magic, she uses books to instruct Luna. She also remembers being studied when she was a child, having her life scribbled down in notebooks by adults who neglected her.
- Luna: Luna is able to draw, both images and maps, without knowing where the content comes from. Detailed maps emerge from her hands as inexplicably as paper appears from the Madwoman’s hands.
What does the symbol of paper represent? Several things. First of all, paper is used to both hurt and harm in the book. For example Antain is scarred by the madwomen’s paper birds. It’s also a source of communication, the drawings of both the madwoman and Luna point to each other. It’s fragile and light–easy to destroy, but also easy to escape with.
Symbol #2: Birds
Birds pop up throughout The Girl Who Drank the Moon:
- Paper Birds: The madwoman is very nearly guarded by an army of paper birds. They attack Antain, they carry the occasional message out of the tower, and they eventually help her escape.
- Xan as a Sparrow: Xan often transforms into a bird to save herself or someone else. At the end she is disguised as a humble sparrow.
- The Crow: When Luna’s magic emerges she is separated from her family–Xan, Glerk and Fyrian. But she is befriended by a crow who keeps her company and warns her of danger.
What do birds symbolize in the book? The birds represent freedom and protection. The birds protect Luna from Ignatia, the crow cautions Luna, and the form of a sparrow protects Xan from Antain’s notice. The birds also help the madwoman escape from the tower.
Symbol #3: The Tiger
This one isn’t as obvious as the other two, but it’s still there. Ignatia is often compared to a tiger and said to have a “tiger’s heart.” This helps us visualize her prowling nature, the way everyone in the Protectorate is prey to her. It also sets her/tiger/cats in opposition to birds.
Did your students notice any other major symbols in The Girl Who Drank the Moon? At what point do you usually start teaching symbolism?
This is a series for teachers who are reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill with their students. You’ll read about focusing your novel study around major literary devices found in the book. If you’re looking for activities to go with the book, you can preview my novel study here.
