1. THEME  Central idea or message  Provides unifying point  Must be inferred

2. BEGIN WITH: What is the piece about?  START WITH AN ABSTRACT NOUN  Abstract nouns are intangible/ideas – freedom, love, hate  Concrete nouns are people places or things – Fiona, rose, table, Steilacoom

3. NEXT Answer this question – WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S STATEMENT ABOUT (abstract noun) ____________ USING (title of piece) _____________ AS A VEHICLE?

4. Examples  Kolbenschlag’s statement about oppression, using “Cinderella, the Legend” as a vehicle, is:  In “Cinderella, the Legend,” Kolbenschlag argues that conformity: