1. English 7CP Mr. Snow

2.   Theme: a universal truth or revelation about life a story teaches us.  Theme is a statement or idea, not a single word.  Friendship is forever  theme  Blood is thicker than water  theme  Happiness  NOT a theme  Family  NOT a theme THEME

3.   Theme focuses on universal ideas, not just the story and its characters. (When you state a theme, don’t mention characters or the story itself.)  One must fight to defend one’s honor  theme  Rikki-tikki-tavi is brave  NOT a theme  “The Smallest Dragonboy” is an underdog story  NOT a theme  Love conquers all  theme THEME

4.   Theme is NOT the same as plot.  Rikki kills the snakes  NOT a theme  Keevan must fight Beterli to prove he is good enough  NOT a theme  Violence doesn’t achieve anything  theme  Sometimes we must fight for what we want  theme THEME

5.   Theme is not usually stated in a story—you must figure it out by asking yourself—  How has/have the main character(s) grown?  What has he or she (or we readers) discovered?  What passages seem most important?  What is the title? Does it tell us anything? THEME

6.   The story is typically built around the theme.  “ Plot is what a story is about. Theme is what a story is really about.”  It’s the heart of a story! THEME

7.   “The Highwayman” is a narrative poem, a long poem w/ plot, characters, & a setting that tells a story.  Narrative poems also have themes. “The Highwayman” (161)

8.   We are going to listen to the poem on CD. “The Highwayman” (161)

9.   What is the theme of “The Highwayman”?  Write it in your notes, because we will be coming back to it!  Now get into groups of 5 or 6 and choose which job you want. “The Highwayman” (161)

10.   1. Discussion Director : Come up with five questions your group will discuss about the work. Write them down and then discuss!  2. Illustrator : You will illustrate a picture that creatively shows the climax, characters, setting, theme, or some aspect of the work.  3. Literary Luminary : You are to find five special, powerful, or beautiful passages to read aloud to the class. Write down in your notes where they are found, and be ready to read them!  4. Connector : You will find five connections between the work and other stories, poems, or life experiences we have discussed. Write them down.  5. Vocabulary Enricher : You will find five new vocabulary words. Copy the sentence, look up the word, and teach these words to your group.  6. Summarizer : You will summarize the work. What happened? Why? What do you think the theme of the work was? LITERATURE CIRCLE

11.   Now listen to Phil Ochs’s version of “The Highwayman.” (slightly different)  Compare it to his song “Ballad of the Carpenter.”  Are there any similarities? Themes ?  Why would a 1960’s folk musician choose to write a song about a thief killed by the British troops and a song about Jesus Christ?  Write your response in your journal. Phil Ochs

12.   “Annabel Lee” is a lyric poem, a song-like poem that does not necessarily tell a story but does express strong emotions.  Edgar Allen Poe uses repetition to drive home the importance of certain lines.  “Annabel Lee” does have a theme.  Let’s read the poem. “Annabel Lee” (175)

13.   Take a few minutes to compare “The Highwayman” with “Annabel Lee.”  What are some similarities?  What are some differences?  What do you think a theme could be that might fit for both? “Annabel Lee” (175)

14.   “Echo and Narcissus” is a myth from Ancient Greece that explains where echoes come from.  I am going to read you the first three paragraphs.  Now close your books and make a prediction in your notes:  What do you think is going to happen to Echo?  Why do you think this will be significant? “Echo and Narcissus” (204)

15.   Now finish reading the story on your own silently.  When you finish, underneath where you wrote your prediction, write whether or not you were close.  After this, write down possible themes for “Echo and Narcissus.” “Echo and Narcissus” (204)

16. Expanded Dialectical Journal (EDJ) PassageParaphrase What it reveals Connections/ Personal Opinions “John raised his rifle, knowing this would mean the death of his body, but the life of his dreams” (123). John knew he was going to die fighting in this war, but he also knew that the war would mean freedom for them. John is willing to die for his dreams, and he realizes that the freedom of his people is worth more than his life. “He glanced up at the capitol building where he had worked all his life, looked away, and marched past the barricades” (205). John worked at the ministry for many years, but the ministry turned evil, and now he knows he must fight them. John is having a crisis, but he realizes that standing up for the truth outweighs his allegiance to his former life.

17.   Here is a good example of an RTL intro:  Hook: Franklin Roosevelt once said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Background/introduce works: This may be true for President Roosevelt, but it is certainly not true for the main characters in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” or George Orwell’s 1984. In these works, the main characters live under gross oppression and daily fear put upon them by the government. They must come to terms with this fear and take drastic steps to obtain their liberty and individuality. Strong split thesis: These two works show us that it is sometimes right to stand up against your country or government for freedom. Response to Literature

18. FIN