Do NOW Combine the following sets of sentences. 1.Today, though, several insurance companies make Hartford their home. Aetna, the Travelers, the Hartford, and Cigna are in Hartford. Their home offices are within miles of one another. 2.Manufacturers once took advantage of Hartford's access to the Connecticut River. They also enjoyed Hartford's well-educated workforce.

Do NOW Combine the following sets of sentences. 1.Today, though, several insurance companies make Hartford their home. Aetna, the Travelers, the Hartford, and Cigna are in Hartford. Their home offices are within miles of one another. Today, though, several insurance companies -- Aetna, the Travelers, the Hartford, and Cigna -- have home offices in Hartford within miles of one another. 1.Manufacturers once took advantage of Hartford's access to the Connecticut River. They also enjoyed Hartford's well-educated workforce. Manufacturers once took advantage of Hartford's access to the Connecticut River and the city's well-educated workforce.

Do NOW Add punctuation to correct the following sentences. 1.Ms. Espinoza has offered to coach the team this year however the competition for the job is intense. 2.The best production facilities are in Atlanta Georgia Boston Massachusetts and Phoenix Arizona. 3.Community colleges which didn't exist prior to the 1950s have proved very popular in the U.S.

In the context of narrative, what is a symbol? A symbol is any literal object, action, place, person, or idea that has figurative meaning so that it represents some important abstract idea below the surface. Interpret this definition In other words, something physical in the story that stands for more than what it simply is.

The American flag is literally fabric and dye. But it represents our freedom, history, and spirit.

A heart is literally an organ that pumps blood. But it represents love.

Symbolism How do we know what they represent?

How do you identify a symbol to begin with? A symbol can be anything in the story that the reader can assign meaning to. How do you interpret the meaning of a symbol? Identify what the author associates the symbol with in the story to form a conclusion. A simple equation: symbol + association = significance Symbolism

For example, in Night Symbol + Association = Significance Fire + Madame Schächter receives a vision and yells of fire on the train, Eliezer sees Nazis burning babies in a ditch, and fire is the agent of destruction in the crematoria = The Nazis’ cruel power. In the Bible, fire is associated with God and divine wrath, but the Nazis use it as a weapon to punish the innocent.

For example, in Night …and to take it a step further, such a reversal demonstrates how the experience of the Holocaust has upset Eliezer’s entire concept of the universe, especially his belief in a benevolent, or even just, God.

Famous example of symbolism in lit Moby Dick possesses various symbolic meanings for various individuals. To the Pequod’s crew, the legendary White Whale is a concept onto which they can displace their anxieties about their dangerous and often very frightening jobs. Because they have no delusions about Moby Dick acting malevolently toward men or literally embodying evil, tales about the whale allow them to confront their fear, manage it, and continue to function. Ahab, on the other hand, believes that Moby Dick is a manifestation of all that is wrong with the world, and he feels that it is his destiny to eradicate this symbolic evil.

Group analysis activity Each group will receive a different quote from Night and must complete the following: 1.Explain the context of the quote. What’s happening in the story when the narrator says this? 2.Interpret the author’s meaning through this passage. What’s the author trying to express and how do you know? 3.Analyze the author’s language and explain how he uses it to convey his meaning. Does the author use repetition, comparisons, symbols, etc. Why?

What Is Theme? Theme is the central idea or insight revealed by a work of literature. Theme gives meaning to the story by providing some idea or insight about human life and human nature. Sometimes a work has several themes. Themes are often universal. They apply to people everywhere because people all over the world have common desires, needs, and experiences.

Theme The plot is what happens. It’s what the story is about. In “The Tell-Tale Heart” a man murders someone and hides his body under the floor. When police visit his home a heartbeat sound drives the man to confess everything. The theme states what the story means. The theme of “The Tell-Tale Heart” is that often the guilt of a wrongdoing is far worse than any legal consequence. The moral of a story is a rule of conduct or a practical lesson about life. “Tortoise and the Hare” - Slow and steady wins the race. The theme is usually a much more complex and original revelation about life. Reaching your goals requires determination and sacrifice, but you have to be careful not to neglect your family and friends while working toward your goals.

Theme The motif is the recurring object, concept, or structure in a story that the author uses in building a theme. One important motif in the Star Wars saga is “the force.” The theme is the concluding lesson the reader takes from all elements and ideas of the story. One theme of the Star Wars saga is that technological strength can be overcome by natural forces, like the spiritual power of “the force.”

Where Is the Theme? A story’s theme is usually not stated directly. All of the elements of the story—plot events, characters, setting, and dialogue—make up the theme. Story Elements: Brenda is athletic and wants her brother to excel in sports. She is disappointed when her brother shows more interest in music than in sports. After hearing her brother give a great solo performance in the youth symphony, she decides to support and encourage his musical talents. Theme: Allowing someone to pursue his or her own interests is more rewarding than trying to force someone to enjoy a specific activity.

Stating a Story’s Theme General guidelines for stating a story’s theme: Step 1:Pay attention to the main character’s actions and to the conflict. Step 2:Use at least one complete sentence to state the theme. Step 3:Express the theme as a generalization about life or human nature. Do not refer to specific characters or events. Step 4:Remember that there’s more than one way to state a story’s theme.