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Read Chess Rumble: “Middlegame” - “Endgame;” Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chess Rumble: “Middlegame” - “Endgame”

Before beginning the lesson, prepare for a symbols game by cutting up the three-column Symbol Match-Up Game for each team or pair (as designated by the teacher). Divide the class into teams and tell students that they are to work with their team to match each picture with its literal and symbolic meaning. For example, if I presented a picture of a red traffic light, its literal (or factual) meaning is “red traffic light,” and its symbolic (or interpretative) meaning is “stop.” Students will work together to match each picture to its literal and symbolic meaning.

will explain that a symbol in a text is an image (of a person, place, or thing) that represents an idea or concept. For example, the “S” symbol literally means the man who flies in the cape (Superman), but it also represents the idea of heroism or bravery. I will explain that in a story, writers use symbols to represent important themes in the text. By using images, the author reminds the reader about the message of the book, or hints at the message of the book instead of telling the reader explicitly. For example, in Harry Potter, the scar on Harry’s forehead could be a symbol of evil. Every time his forehead hurts or appears in the story, the author is reminding the reader that Harry is in a battle of good vs. evil, but the author does not have to tell the reader, “Remember, one theme of this book is good vs. evil.”

To find symbols in a text, I will first look for a recurring image that seems important in the story. I will model looking back through Chess Rumble for a recurring words or images. I will identify “the game” at the beginning of the novel (“It’s all a game to me.”) and continue listing examples of the game in the text. Note: See Identifying Symbols Example Charts for specific examples.

Next, I need to figure out what the game might represent. To do this, I will think about the qualities or characteristics of game. Games present obstacles. Games are about confronting an opponent. Games usually have a winner and a loser.

Then, I will think about how the characteristics of a game might affect the main character, Marcus. Does he have obstacles? Is he confronting an opponent? He does have obstacles. He recently lost his sister to heart disease and his father left the family. He is also confronting an opponent. He is having trouble at school with his teachers and is fighting with one boy, Latrell. He is also confronting his own demons. He is his own opponent.

Finally, I will explain what the symbol means for the story. The game could represent Marcus’ challenges and obstacles, and whether he will win out over them or be crushed by them. The game represents the conflict of the story against his inner and outer demons.

Ask: "How can I identify and explain a symbol in a text?" Students should answer that you identify recurring images in the book, carefully recording where you find them, and then, you should think about what the recurring image might represent by examining the qualities or characteristics of that image and thinking about how that might be important to the characters in the story. Then, you can use that material to explain what the symbol means.

will examine another symbol in Chess Rumble. We will brainstorm a list recurring words or images from the book on chart paper, for example, the King, Pawn, Knight, Middlegame, or the Hulk. Note: Invite students to add to this list. We will look at the list of images and words that we have brainstormed and determine whether each image is a symbol by asking ourselves the following questions: 
1) Is this image a recurring image in the text? 
2) Is this image significant or just a minor detail? 
3) Could this image have an idea behind it or is it just literal?

We will determine, for example, that basketball is not a symbol. It is not a recurring image in the text, and it is not important to the story. On the other hand, we will determine that a chess player’s middlegame occurs several times in the book— as a section heading and as a topic that CM brings up to teach Marcus a lesson. Note: See Identifying Symbols Example Charts for specific examples.

Next, we are going to describe a middlegame and think about its characteristics. The middlegame is the part of chess that is between the opening move and the capturing of the opponent’s king. It is literally the middle of the game. If you are focusing on your middlegame, you are thinking three steps ahead, not all the way to the end, but just strategically enough to stay ahead of your opponent.

Then, we will think about what the characteristics of a middlegame might have to do with Marcus beyond the chess match. Does he need to think three steps ahead? Yes, sometimes he acts out without even thinking. For example, making a fist at his mother without even realizing it. He needs to think about the consequences of his actions, rather than just acting.

Finally we will think about what the middlegame symbolizes. Middlegame is a symbol of strategy and control of one’s life. It is thinking beyond the immediate hardship and staying a few steps ahead of your opponents. For Marcus, it’s about not immediately giving in to the urge to fight other students or his mom, not giving into his anger and staying ahead of his opponents. For example, this becomes important when he is surprised by Latrell and his gang on the way home. He wasn’t thinking ahead, and was caught off guard. Gaining control of the middlegame means setting up your win in life.

will choose a symbol from the list of images on the Identifying Symbols Worksheet in your Student Packet. (See page 30 in the Student Packet.) You will identify a symbol and explain what it means for the story.

will come together and share the symbols we identified in the book. Each student will have the chance to explain what their symbol means. We will discuss how the symbol helps us think about the themes in the book. We will discuss what message the author has for the readers of Chess Rumble.