HOW TO WRITE A GOOD THEMATIC STATEMENT Theme is the universal ideal or concept conveyed in this piece of literature.

Your thematic statement is an abstract idea coupled with a comment or observation which addresses: human motivation or the human condition or human ambition "The Most Dangerous Game" Our reason, courage and strength –can reach their full potential when challenged by a hostile environment. With great courage and luck, –even in the most hostile environment, man can overcome the odds against survival.

Do’s and don’ts AVOID – moralizing – theme is not moral (nobody should be…) –INSTEAD – observe weigh consider AVOID – absolute words – all, everyone, each, none, always, never, etc… –INSTEAD – sometimes, often, adolescents, frequently, etc… AVOID – specifics of plot, character name and setting

Thematic Statements are about the world not just about the book Social classes separate people into adversarial groups. Courage is taking a stand for what is right. The strong should not take advantage of the weak. Prejudice evolves from fear of differences. Humanity, outside of the restraints of law and order, is essentially brutal. Only the restraints of civilization prevent humanity from descending to the base behavior of an animal. Born with the blot of original sin, only the saving grace of God redeems mankind.

Some themes are directly stated “…you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them…” Courage is “when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

A thesis should connect the topic / the literature to the thematic statement The Topic = character, setting, plot element, conflict, symbol, image Character: Simon, Ralph, Jack Setting: the beach, the mountain, Castle Rock Image or Symbol: the conch, the fire, the spectacles

The Thesis – questions to ask What aspect of the novel are you going to be talking about? What does this – the character, the setting, the image, the conflict – reveal about the world around us? A thesis statement = an element of the novel + theme

As a group Write one thematic statement related to the novel. Find two examples in text where it is supported.

THEMATIC STATEMENT: In the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character of Dolphus Raymond to show that many times things are not always as them seem. Quote #1: “Secretly, Miss Finch, I’m not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live” (Lee 229). Quote #2: “I try to give ‘em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey- that’s why he won’t change his ways. He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives the way he does” (Lee 229). THIS IS HOW YOU USE A CHARACTER TO SUPPORT THE WAY IN WHICH AN AUTHOR REINFORCES A LITERARY THEME. AUTHORS CAN USE CHARACTERS, SYMBOLS (the light in Anthem), SETTINGS, PLOT CONFLICT etc…. TO SHOW IMPORTANT THEMES.