Symbolism and Motifs in

“Sailmaker”

Learning Intention

To understand and analyse the symbolism and motifs in “Sailmaker”.

SYMBOLISM

What is Symbolism?

• Symbolism is when an author uses an object or reference to add deeper meaning to a story.

• Symbolism in literature can be subtle or obvious, used sparingly or heavy-handedly.

• An author may repeatedly use the same object to convey deeper meaning or may use variations of the same object to create an overarching mood or feeling. Symbolism is often used to support a literary theme in a subtle manner.

Think-Pair-Share

With your partner, think about and discuss the following question:

What are the main three objects used symbolically in “Sailmaker”?

Be prepared to share your thoughts with the rest of the class.

•The Yacht

•The Broken Mirror

•Davie’s Sailmaking Tools

THE YACHT

• The associations of the yacht to escape, pleasure and wealth stands in stark contrast to the reality of Alec and Davie's worsening situation. • The boat becomes an emblem of people's dreams while relating to the characters'

reality. • It relates to the trade that Davie knows – sailmaking - and which is now obsolete. • It is an object that becomes a symbol for a character's identity: for Billy it becomes

a way of securing his identity as a Protestant and Rangers fan. • The fact that Davie never gets round to fixing it up for Alec represents the

relationship between father and son which never gets 'fixed-up' either.• The boat represents Davie best: he is never completed as a person, just as the

yacht has no sails and cannot move forward neither can Davie.• It's burning at the end to provide heat can be viewed as the destruction of the

dream of escape and the end of Davie's hopes of recovering himself.

THE BROKEN MIRROR

• The mirror that Davie uses to shave is broken. As Alec is entering into manhood, he starts to use Davie's mirror, but there's “a big crack doon the middle” and this makes it hard for Alec to shave.

• The mirror represents Davie's cracked identity or self-image as it is sometimes called.

• Davie is finding it hard to keep himself together as a person: the “shattered” mirror represents this.

• Alec, who has not suffered the blows to his own self-image that Davie has, finds a cracked mirror 'stupid' and difficult.

THE SAILMAKING TOOLS

• The tools that Alec shows to Ian symbolise a tension that exists in Glasgow life. • Glasgow has been the home of creativity: the ship-building, the engineering and the many

movements in all types of art forms.

• However, Glasgow has also been the source of a great deal of violence. It was famous in the 1960s for its violence, gaining the name of 'No Mean City' for itself.

• Alec understands the names and the creativity of the tools, whereas Ian sees the tools as

potential weapons. Again, showing the contrast in the characters.

• The burning of the tools at the end of the play again shows how hopeless Davie has become.

MOTIF

Similar to symbolsim but is a recurring theme, idea or subject

(NOT an object) within a literary text.

Think-Pair-ShareThere are a number of significant motifs within “Sailmaker”.

With your partner, think about and discuss the following question:

What are the main three motifs in “Sailmaker”?

Be prepared to share your thoughts with the rest of the class.

•The Sea

•The Glory Hole

•Football

THE SEA

• References to the sea recur throughout the play. The sea represents some of Alan Spence’s ideas

• The sea is always changing but never changes. (Common Buddhist belief)

• Davie says to Alec “Ye have to believe in something.” He then refers to a book on Buddhism he has read in which a wooden statue of Buddha is burned for warmth

• The idea behind this is that everything is sacred, or nothing at all

THE GLORY HOLE

• The Glory Hole is a built in, very small, storage room to many tenements in Glasgow.

• It is where stuff is kept.

• It becomes a motif for memories and hopes.

FOOTBALL

• Football is important to the identity of many people in Glasgow.

• The ability to connect to a football team in Glasgow is important not only to be part of a “tribe”, but merely to be part of the conversation.

• Football is one of the few creative enjoyments of the working class as a group.

• Helps Spence explore the themes within the play - such as religion, sectarianism

Group Task• Create a mind-map/poster about your assigned symbol/motif

• You must include:• What happens in the play to explore this object/idea• What characters help us to understand them• What deeper meanings are explored through these objects/ideas• Examples and details from the play• At least three quotations which relate to the object/theme/idea

• Give as much detail as you can

• Each group will then share their mind-map/poster with the rest of the class

• Give One, Get Six!

Group Task Success Criteria

• To work as part of a team

• To listen to and to respect other people’s opinions

• To create a poster on an assigned symbol/morif to present to the rest of the class

• To use at least three quotations from “Sailmaker” in your poster

Group Task• Create a mind-map/poster about your assigned symbol/motif

• You must include:• What happens in the play to explore this object/idea• What characters help us to understand them• What deeper meanings are explored through these objects/ideas• Examples and details from the play• At least three quotations which relate to the object/theme/idea

• Give as much detail as you can

• Each group will then share their mind-map/poster with the rest of the class

• Give One, Get Six!

Scottish Set Text QuestionsAct 2 - The ending to the play. Read from page 62 to the end.

1. How do Davie’s words between lines 1-23 develop tone and mood in the scene? (2)

2. With close reference to the text, show how the playwright reveals tension in relation to the possibility of Alec leaving home. (2)

3. With reference to the passage selected, discuss the ways in which the burning of the following objects is significant:

a) Davie’s tools (2) b) The furniture (2)

4. How does the playwright develop the dramatic impact of the burning of the yacht through structure and imagery? (4)

5. Symbolism is an important technique employed throughout the play. With reference to the yacht (and any other symbolic feature) discuss the ways in which symbolism strengthens your understanding of the play as a whole. (8)

The 8 Mark QuestionSuccess Criteria:

• 1 mark if pupils make a comment that linked with the passage in front of them.

• 2 marks each for a decent/relevant P.E.E paragraph to do with education - 6

marks in total. Make THREE points.(Must be from pupils’ knowledge of the rest of the passage/play)

• 1 final mark for a good summary of why education is an important theme.

Scottish Set Text Questions Act 2 - The ending to the play. Read from page 62 ‘Davie: This is part of the furniture that we got…’ to the end. 1. Summarise in your own words what happens in this extract. You should make at least 2 key points.

(2)2. Alec understands the deeper significance of people’s actions and inactions. How is this revealed through symbolism in the extract? (2)

3. Alec’s education is reflected through his monologues. By looking closely at word choice, imagery and structure explain how this is revealed in the extract?• Word choice (2)• Imagery (3)• Structure (3)4. ‘Sailmaker’ is a play which explores the relationship between father and son. With close reference to the text explain how this theme is explored. (8)