Use this activity to engage all types of learners while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“The Adventures of the Red Silk Bag”

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of the symbol of the red silk bag by illustrating its development throughout The Count of Monte Cristo.

The red silk bag first appears when M. Morrel uses it to leave some money with Edmond’s father—but this is far from its only appearance in the text. In this activity, you will show how the bag’s initial appearance and subsequent reappearances develop it as a symbol over the course of the novel. Your goal is to create a visual representation of its travels that conveys to your audience both where the bag shows up in the plot and why—how does each appearance further develop its value as a symbol?

Gather Your Evidence

• Review the plot of the novel and note where the red silk bag appears—what is happening, and who has possession of the bag?
• Consider diction, imagery, figurative language, and plot detail in these scenes—what messages about the characters and their actions are being suggested by their interactions with the red silk bag?