SaFELY HOME By Randy Alcorn

Journal What would you say to someone who asks why God allows his children to suffer?

LITERARY ELEMENT: THEME What theme IS NOT: It is not the subject of the story. It is not a “hidden meaning” that needs to be pulled out of the story. It is not the “moral” of the story. Moral is a piece of practical advice that can be gained from the novel A theme is more complex than a moral and may have no direct advice

What theme IS: Theme is the meaning released by the work when we take all aspects of the work into consideration. It is an aspect of human experience that the author wishes to express.

Theme can be discovered only by becoming aware of the relations among the parts of a story and of the relations of the parts to whole. Characters: What kind of people does the story deal with? Plot: What do the characters do? Are they in control of their lives, or are they controlled by fate? Motivation: why do the characters behave as they do, and what motives dominate them? Style: How does the author perceive reality/ Tone: What is the author’s attitude towards his subject/ Values: What are the values of the characters in the story? What values does the author seem to promote?

Identifying theme http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv- spots/111-Just-Say-Hi http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv- spots/86-Track-Coach http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv- spots/81-Spirit-of-America

Quote Analysis Context (1-2 sentences) 1. Speaker 2. Setting 3. Plot Analysis (3-5 sentences) 1. Conflict—what is going on? 2. Significance 3. Connection to theme

In-Class Quote Analysis “’Is this the day I die?’ He’d asked himself the question every day since he was Shen’s age. Every day the answer had been no. But his father had taught him. ‘One day the answer will be yes, and on that day you must be ready’” (8).

Effective quote analysis Utilizes outline of parts Approximately 8-10 sentences. Supports claims with evidence (quotes) from the text. Seamlessly integrates quotes. “Is this the day I die?” (8). vs. Li Quan daily asked himself, “Is this the day I die?” (8).

Group Quote Analysis In groups of no more than 3 people, use the following quote to complete a quote analysis: “’When I decided to leave Harvard, I told you China was my home, not America. I was only half right. It was right that America was not my home but wrong in thinking that China was.” “What do you mean?” “China is my place of service. It is the battlefield where Li Quan has been dispatched as Yesu’s soldier. But this is not my home. Heaven is my home, my true country. I know that now. But it was a hard lesson to learn” (88). Analyze the quote using the steps outlined last class period. One written paragraph per group. As we share, take note of the quotes (they may come in handy for future in-class writing!)

Your Homework Start thinking about the in-class essay you will complete next Friday on Safely Home. We will spend time on Monday and Wednesday preparing for it, but you will need to have a clear knowledge and understanding of the book (that means it needs to be read!). The prompt for the in-class essay will be: “Why the title, Safely Home?”