Keyword Guide · theme-symbolism
Tommy Orange’s There There uses symbols to explore the experiences of urban Indigenous people in California. These symbols are not decorative—they carry specific, plot-driven meanings tied to character choices and collective themes. This guide gives you concrete tools to identify, analyze, and write about these symbols for class assignments.
Symbolism in There There centers on objects, locations, and cultural practices that reflect the tension between Indigenous identity erasure and reclamation. Common symbols include urban spaces, traditional crafts, and media representations, each tied to a character’s personal struggle or the group’s shared history. Start by mapping each symbol to a specific character arc to build targeted analysis.
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Symbolism in There There refers to recurring objects, actions, or settings that stand in for larger ideas about Indigenous identity, displacement, and community. Each symbol is rooted in the lived experiences of the novel’s urban Indigenous characters, avoiding generic 'Native' tropes. Symbols often shift meaning as characters grow or confront their pasts.
Next step: List 3 symbols you noticed during reading, then write one sentence linking each to a character’s core conflict.
Action: Catalog recurring symbols
Output: A typed list of 5-7 symbols with page references (no exact quotes)
Action: Map symbols to character arcs
Output: A 2-column chart matching each symbol to a character’s growth or conflict
Action: Connect symbols to real contexts
Output: A 1-paragraph write-up linking one symbol to a modern Indigenous social issue
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Action: Identify recurring symbols
Output: A list of 3-5 objects, settings, or actions that appear multiple times across the novel
Action: Track context around each symbol
Output: A notebook entry for each symbol noting who interacts with it, when, and what happens before/after the appearance
Action: Link symbols to themes or conflicts
Output: A 1-paragraph analysis for each symbol explaining what it represents, tied to specific character or plot details
Teacher looks for: Accurate, specific identification of recurring, plot-driven symbols from the novel
How to meet it: Focus on symbols that appear 3+ times and tie to major character arcs, not one-off, minor details
Teacher looks for: Clear links between symbols and the novel’s core themes (identity, displacement, community)
How to meet it: Avoid generic claims—tie each symbol’s meaning to a specific character’s conflict or a collective group experience
Teacher looks for: Connection of symbol meaning to real-world urban Indigenous experiences
How to meet it: Research one modern Indigenous urban organization or movement, then link its work to a symbol’s thematic purpose
A symbol carries a specific, thematic meaning that shifts or develops over the novel. A motif is just a recurring element (like a color or action) that may not carry consistent thematic weight. For example, a recurring type of food might be a motif, but if it ties to a character’s reclamation of cultural practice, it becomes a symbol. Use this before class to avoid mislabeling terms during discussion.
Symbols in There There are tied to the unique experiences of urban Indigenous people, not broad, historical Indigenous tropes. When analyzing a symbol, consider how the novel’s California setting shapes its meaning—for example, a symbol tied to public space will have a different purpose than one tied to a rural reservation. Write one sentence linking a symbol to the novel’s urban setting for your next essay draft.
Many symbols in the novel change meaning as characters grow or confront their pasts. A symbol that represents trauma early on might come to represent healing by the novel’s end. Track these shifts by noting the context of each symbol’s appearance (a character’s emotional state, plot events happening at the time). Create a 3-column chart tracking a symbol’s meaning at the start, middle, and end of the novel.
Teachers grade harshly for generic claims like 'this symbol represents Native culture.' Instead, be specific: 'this symbol represents the struggle of urban Indigenous people to maintain cultural practices in a non-Native space.' Research one modern urban Indigenous initiative to support this specific analysis. Add this research as a contextual footnote to your next essay outline.
When participating in class discussion, lead with a specific symbol and its context, not a broad thematic claim. For example, start with 'When [character] interacts with [symbol] during [plot event], it shows their conflict with [specific identity issue]' alongside 'This symbol is about identity.' Practice this opening line with one symbol before your next discussion.
Strong analysis connects novel symbols to real-world Indigenous experiences. For example, if a symbol ties to cultural reclamation, research a modern urban Indigenous art project or language revival program. Write one sentence linking this real-world example to the novel’s symbol for your exam notes.
The novel’s core symbols are tied to urban Indigenous experiences, including specific public spaces, cultural practices adapted to city life, and media representations. Start with recurring elements that appear in multiple character arcs.
First, identify a recurring symbol, then track its appearance across the novel, noting how it ties to character growth or conflict. Finally, link the symbol’s meaning to a core novel theme and, if possible, a real-world Indigenous context.
The novel focuses on the specific, lived experiences of urban Indigenous people in California, so symbols are grounded in those experiences alongside broad, stereotypical ideas about Indigenous culture.
Yes, many symbols shift meaning as characters grow or plot events unfold. A symbol that represents displacement early on might come to represent reclamation by the novel’s end.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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