Mini Lesson: Theme

REVIEW… The five literary elements found in all fictional literature… Characters : who Setting: where/when Plot: how Conflict: what THEME: WHY!

Theme A theme is… the author’s central message or idea in a story. expressed in a general statement. is about human beings or about life.

How to figure out the THEME of a fictional story… CENTRAL IDEA: What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? SO WHAT? So what is the author saying about that central idea? What VIVID VERBS or VIVID ADJECTIVES can you use here? EXPAND: Put it into a Theme Statement combing Central Idea with a Vivid Verb or Adjective.

A Christmas Carol: How to figure out Theme What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? What is the author saying about one of these topics? Put it into a THEME statement!

Possible Theme Statements for A Christmas Carol The welfare of others is everyone’s concern. There is joy in doing good for others. The Christmas spirit should be alive in people all year long. People can change for the better. It is never too late for redemption. Guilt and regret have transformative powers.

“The Raven” CENTRAL IDEA: What topics or big ideas does the poem deal with? SO WHAT? So what is the author saying about that central idea? What VIVID VERBS or VIVID ADJECTIVES can you use here? EXPAND: Put it into a Theme Statement combing Central Idea with a Vivid Verb or Adjective.

Possible Central ideas of “The Raven” Madness Sorrow Death Grief Loss Love Torture

“The Raven” – So What? Vivid Verbs and Adjectives The author is saying that extreme grief has a profound effect on the mental state of a person. avoid crazy escape relentless imagining significant descending torturous maddening

“The Raven” – A Theme Statement avoid crazy escape relentless imagining significant descending torturous maddening Significant grief can cause a descent into madness.

Now you Try with “Elena” CENTRAL IDEA: What topics or big ideas does the poem deal with? SO WHAT? So what is the author saying about that central idea? What VIVID VERBS or VIVID ADJECTIVES can you use here? EXPAND: Put it into a Theme Statement combing Central Idea with a Vivid Verb or Adjective.

Now you Try with “Elena” CENTRAL IDEAS: perseverance, determination, disappointment, pride, frustration, shame, humiliation

Now you Try with “Elena” SO WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT DETERMINATION? The author is saying that a mother will go to any length necessary to maintain a close relationship with her child. VERBS ADJECTIVES Interfere dedicated humiliate uneducated adapt

Now you Try with “Elena” EXPAND IN A THEME STATEMENT: Isolation can lead to determination. The perseverance of a mother is fierce. Cultural divides can instill isolation. Humiliation does not break the will of one who is determined. 

Homework Theme statement So what? Choose a poem to read: “Mirror” or “Supple Cord.” Using all necessary strategies, read the poem multiple times and annotate. Decide upon a few applicable Central Ideas for the poem. Write a possible theme statement: Central Idea So what? Theme statement

Writer’s craft Turn and talk: What are some examples of writer’s craft that poets use to convey meaning in their poems?

Types of Writer’s craft Punctuation/capitalization Word choice Figurative language / Sound devices Repetition Topic of poem Setting Title Verb tense Pronouns - POV Allusion Presentation of text on page (shape, length, line/stanza breaks)

Identifying Evidence Theme Statement for “The Raven” Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. What evidence from the poem supports this theme? (think about writer’s craft)

Identifying Evidence Both pieces of evidence show significant grief. Which is a stronger example? “vainly I had sought to borrow / From my books surcesase of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore” OR “by these angels he hath sent thee / Respite – respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore; / Quaff, or quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”

Identifying Evidence Both pieces of evidence show a descent into madness. Which is a stronger example? “Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting - / “Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!” OR “Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door - / Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - / This it is and nothing more.”

Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Identifying Evidence Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Evidence Explanation “vainly I ha sought to borrow / From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore” Poe uses the writer’s craft of repetition of words to show the speaker’s incredible grief. He also uses punctuation in a deliberate way by using the dash between the repeated words to give them more emphasis.

Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Identifying Evidence Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Evidence Explanation “’Respite – respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore; / Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!’” The word choice of nepenthe and forget shows the speaker’s intense grief. To understand how sad the speaker is, the reader must know that nepenthe is an ancient medicine used to relieve pain or sorrow.

Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Identifying Evidence Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Evidence Explanation “’Is there – is there balm in Gilead? – tell me – tell me, I implore!’” Poe uses the allusion about a balm in Gilead to show the speaker’s significant grief. The balm in Gilead is a reference to the Bible; it was a cream that was used to heal people.

Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Identifying Evidence Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Evidence Explanation “’Prophet!’ said I, ‘thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil!’” Poe uses the writer’s craft of punctuation to show the speaker’s descent into madness. As the poem goes on, more exclamation marks are used to show the speaker’s strong emotion and madness.

Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Identifying Evidence Significant grief can cause a descent into madness. Evidence Explanation “’Get thee back into the tempest …’” “’Leave no black plume …’” “’Leave my loneliness unbroken!’” “’Take thy beak from out my heart …’” Poe uses sentence structure to show the speaker’s madness. In the final stanzas, the speaker uses imperative (command) sentences as he shows his anger with the raven and the bird’s perceived message.

Identifying Evidence Try this on your own. Pick one of the poems you read. Find several pieces of evidence to support the theme. (Consider examples of author’s craft in addition to direct quotes that show the theme.) Record them in the chart along with an explanation of how each example supports the theme. Be sure your explanation mentions the type of writer’s craft.

How to use a direct quote correctly Think of a SANDWICH! 1. Lead in 2. Quote 3. Wrap Up

The Quote Sandwich THE FORMULA: Lead In Give a context using 5Ws Direct Quote Word for word what was written in the text. 1-3 sentences is ideal. Wrap Up What does the quote mean in your own words? When Scrooge is shown his gravestone by the ghost, he vows, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” In other words, Scrooge promises to keep the spirit of the Christmas season all year long.

2 common mistakes

sprinkling quotes vs. imbedding quotes Common mistake #1 sprinkling quotes vs. imbedding quotes

Where’s the context? Who’s speaking? Don’t Sprinkle…imbed! Incorporate quotes into your paragraph. Do NOT begin or end a paragraph with a quote. Non-example: Scrooge hates Christmas and then he changes. “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” Scrooge makes a promise. Where’s the context? Who’s speaking?

Common Mistake #2 Drive-by quoting

Don’t Participate in Drive-By Quoting! Do NOT put a quote into your writing with no explanation. Non-example: Scrooge says, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” Where’s the explanation?

Strategies for imbedding a quote: Set up a context for the quote. Think 5Ws After the quote, explain what it means in your own words. Connect the quote back to your reason.

IMBEDDING A QUOTE sentence starters: Before the quote add… After the quote add… X states, “ _______.” According to X, “__.” In his book, X describes, “_____.” In X’s view, “_____.” Basically, X is saying ______. In other words, ______. In making this comment, X argues that _____. X’s point is that, ____. What __ really means is ___. AVOID: This quote shows _________.