The document provides information about symbolism and motifs in the short story "Sailmaker" including: 1) It defines symbolism as when an author uses objects or references to add deeper meaning to a story and provides examples of symbolic objects in "Sailmaker" like the yacht, broken mirror, and Davie's sailmaking tools. 2) It analyzes these symbolic objects, explaining how the yacht represents dreams, identity, and Davie's inability to change, the broken mirror represents Davie's cracked self-image, and the sailmaking tools represent Glasgow's creativity versus violence. 3) It defines motif as a recurring theme/idea in a literary text and provides motifs in "

1. Symbolism and Motifs
in
“Sailmaker”

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. •The Yacht
•The Broken Mirror
•Davie’s Sailmaking Tools

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. MOTIF
Similar to symbolsim but is a
recurring theme, idea or
subject (NOT an object) within a
literary text.

10. Think-Pair-Share
There 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.

11. •The Sea
•The Glory Hole
•Football

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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!

16. 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

17. 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!

18. Scottish Set Text Questions
Act 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)

19. The 8 Mark Question
Success 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.

20. 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)