Salt to the Sea

Explain how each of the novel’s four major and minor characters plays an important role in the narrative. How do the supporting characters make a significant impact on the main characters in the novel? In what way do the supporting characters provide additional information to the reader and emphasize the novel’s themes? What sacrifices are made by the characters to support other characters? How are characters like Alfred essential to the plot of the novel? In what ways do the characters experience growth in the novel?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful for students to analyze individual characters before responding to the prompt. Students may benefit from using a 4-column chart to name the characters and list their characteristics and importance to the novel’s plot. Small groups might complete a poster-sized chart for display and comparison, or smaller classes might work together to complete a large chart on the board.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students with processing challenges or who have difficulty with whole-text tasks, consider permitting individuals to focus on small sets of chapters, then jigsaw ideas with others. Kinesthetic learners might benefit from posting the names of each character around the room and discussing the characters in a cooperative learning activity such as a