RL2 Theme It’s the big picture

The Target 4 I can determine multiple themes or central ideas, explain how they related, and give 3+ key supporting details showing development through the text. 3 I can determine multiple themes or central ideas, explain how they relate, and give 3+ supporting details showing development through the text. 2 I can determine multiple themes or central ideas, explain how they relate, and give 1-2 details showing development through the text.

Tips Conflicts almost always connect to themes: Identify the conflicts Consider: what message did the author want us to take away about this conflict? Majority rules—be sure the entire text supports what you believe to be the theme. Consider history—many authors write about themes important to the time period.

A Model We Wear the Mask By Paul Laurence Dunbar We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask!

Class Practice A Lullaby By Randall Jarrell, a WWII veteran For wars his life and half a world away The soldier sells his family and days. He learns to fight for freedom and the State; He sleeps with seven men within six feet. He picks up matches and he cleans out plates; Is lied to like a child, cursed like a beast. They crop his head, his dog tags ring like sheep As his stiff limbs shift wearily to sleep. Recalled in dreams or letters, else forgot, His life is smothered like a grave, with dirt; And his dull torment mottles like a fly’s The lying amber of the histories.