Salt to the Sea, a historical novel, is a tribute to the human spirit and the enduring memory of the victims of war.
Reading and Writing Workshop: Salt to the Sea
General Instructions:
Begin by reading the work either in groups or as a class. If group reading, divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the literary thinking guide or Novel Tracker. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life fostering a deeper understanding of concepts such as English society, cultural norms, conflict, and resilience.
Essential Literary Questions
Literary Learning Objectives
Students will:
GROUP STRUCTURE
Groups of 4–5 students
Rotating Literary Roles (rotate every session):
SESSION-BY-SESSION LITERARY WORKSHOP
Session 1: Voice & First Impressions
Focus: Narrative voice, tone, diction
Close Reading (Opening Chapters)
Groups annotate for:
Craft Reflection:
How voice establishes character in fewer than three pages.
Session 2: Point of View & Reliability
Focus: Limited first-person narration
Group Analysis
Analytical Paragraph:
How first-person narration shapes reader trust.
Session 3: Structure & Form
Focus: Fragmented chapters, pacing, white space
Group Tasks
Literary minimalism & fragmentary storytelling
Writing Task
Form Analysis:
Why short chapters matter in this novel.
Session 4: Character as Literary Construction
Focus: Indirect characterization
Group Focus
Each group tracks one character:
Literary Character Analysis:
How Sepetys builds character through implication rather than exposition.
Session 5: Symbolism & Motifs
Focus: Repetition & layered meaning
Key Symbols to Track
For each symbol:
Symbol Analysis Paragraph
How one symbol evolves across the novel.
Session 6: Theme Development
Focus: Abstract ideas grounded in text
Core Themes
Track one theme across:
Theme Claim Paragraph (CER):
How a theme develops—not just what it is.
Session 7: Language & Style
Focus: Syntax, imagery, repetition
Close Reading
Examine:
Style Imitation:
Write a 1–2 page scene using Sepetys’ stylistic techniques.
Session 8: Juxtaposition & Contrast
Focus: Structural and thematic contrast
Group Analysis
Comparative Literary Analysis:
How contrast deepens theme.
Session 9: Ending & Literary Impact
Focus: Resolution, restraint, memory
Discussion
Literary Reflection:
How restraint strengthens emotional impact.
CULMINATING LITERARY WRITING OPTIONS
Option 1: Literary Analysis Essay
Prompt:
How does Salt to the Sea use structure and voice to develop theme?
Option 2: Craft Essay
Prompt:
Analyze one literary technique Sepetys uses and explain why it is effective.
Option 3: Creative Craft Piece
Extension Options
General Instructions:
Begin by reading the work either in groups or as a class. If group reading, divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the literary thinking guide or Novel Tracker. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life fostering a deeper understanding of concepts such as English society, cultural norms, conflict, and resilience.
Essential Literary Questions
- How does narrative structure shape meaning and emotional impact?
- How do voice and point of view influence reliability and empathy?
- How do symbols and motifs carry theme?
- What makes a novel literary rather than simply historical?
Literary Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze multiple narrators and voice
- Examine structure, pacing, and form
- Interpret symbolism and motifs
- Track theme development
- Write literary analysis, imitation, and reflection
- Participate in evidence-based discussion
GROUP STRUCTURE
Groups of 4–5 students
Rotating Literary Roles (rotate every session):
- Voice Analyst – studies diction, tone, syntax
- Structure Tracker – analyzes chapter length, pacing, sequencing
- Symbol Hunter – tracks recurring images & objects
- Theme Builder – connects evidence to abstract ideas
- Discussion Leader – facilitates close-reading dialogue
SESSION-BY-SESSION LITERARY WORKSHOP
Session 1: Voice & First Impressions
Focus: Narrative voice, tone, diction
Close Reading (Opening Chapters)
Groups annotate for:
- Word choice
- Sentence length
- Emotional tone
- Distinctiveness of each narrator
- How does Sepetys differentiate voices so quickly?
- Which voice feels intimate? Which feels distant?
Craft Reflection:
How voice establishes character in fewer than three pages.
Session 2: Point of View & Reliability
Focus: Limited first-person narration
Group Analysis
- What each narrator knows
- What they withhold
- Emotional bias vs. factual truth
- Are any narrators unreliable? How?
- How does limited POV shape suspense?
Analytical Paragraph:
How first-person narration shapes reader trust.
Session 3: Structure & Form
Focus: Fragmented chapters, pacing, white space
Group Tasks
- Chart chapter lengths
- Identify moments of compression vs. expansion
- Connect form to urgency
Literary minimalism & fragmentary storytelling
Writing Task
Form Analysis:
Why short chapters matter in this novel.
Session 4: Character as Literary Construction
Focus: Indirect characterization
Group Focus
Each group tracks one character:
- Joana
- Florian
- Emilia
- Alfred
- Identify actions vs. thoughts
- Trace emotional arc
- Examine contradictions
Literary Character Analysis:
How Sepetys builds character through implication rather than exposition.
Session 5: Symbolism & Motifs
Focus: Repetition & layered meaning
Key Symbols to Track
- The sea
- Shoes
- Documents/papers
- Silence
- Guilt
For each symbol:
- Literal meaning
- Emotional meaning
- Thematic meaning
Symbol Analysis Paragraph
How one symbol evolves across the novel.
Session 6: Theme Development
Focus: Abstract ideas grounded in text
Core Themes
- Silence vs. Voice
- Guilt & Responsibility
- Survival & Humanity
- Memory & Erasure
Track one theme across:
- Beginning
- Middle
- End
Theme Claim Paragraph (CER):
How a theme develops—not just what it is.
Session 7: Language & Style
Focus: Syntax, imagery, repetition
Close Reading
Examine:
- Sentence fragments
- Repetition of phrases
- Sensory imagery
- Why simple language can be powerful
- Emotional restraint vs. sentimentality
Style Imitation:
Write a 1–2 page scene using Sepetys’ stylistic techniques.
Session 8: Juxtaposition & Contrast
Focus: Structural and thematic contrast
Group Analysis
- Alfred vs. other narrators
- Hope vs. denial
- Innocence vs. cruelty
Comparative Literary Analysis:
How contrast deepens theme.
Session 9: Ending & Literary Impact
Focus: Resolution, restraint, memory
Discussion
- Why the ending avoids sentimentality
- What is left unsaid—and why
Literary Reflection:
How restraint strengthens emotional impact.
CULMINATING LITERARY WRITING OPTIONS
Option 1: Literary Analysis Essay
Prompt:
How does Salt to the Sea use structure and voice to develop theme?
Option 2: Craft Essay
Prompt:
Analyze one literary technique Sepetys uses and explain why it is effective.
Option 3: Creative Craft Piece
- Write an original short piece using:
- Multiple narrators
- Fragmented chapters
- Symbol-driven storytelling
Extension Options
- Pair with modernist fragments or prose poetry
- Compare narrative structure with another multi-voice novel
- Create a literary craft guide for future writers
- Build a student anthology inspired by the novel’s style