The Arrival (Graphic Novel) Lesson Plan

Trace the development of the vase in these chapters. What purpose does it originally serve? What does it become? How does it advance the novel's themes?

Initially, the vase is a gift from the immigrant family who invites the man to their house and feeds him dinner. He brings it home, where it stands empty on his window frame, signifying his own emptiness and inability to find a home. But over the course of the three chapters, it soon becomes a home for birds. The vase signifies the ability to find a home anywhere, provided one gets help and support from others.

What prevents the man from getting a job? What do these elements represent? What is significant about the last...