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Examining Theme

The document provides guidance on identifying themes in short stories. It defines theme as a core or deeper meaning beyond the plot or characters, while the subject matter is what the story is literally about. A theme requires analysis to uncover, and can be a broad concept or narrow statement. Effective thematic statements closely apply the theme to the specific text. The document gives examples of subject matter, thematic concepts, and thematic statements, and instructs students to practice identifying these elements in the short story "Mrs. Turner Cutting the Grass."

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Katia Chalova
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34 views2 pages

Examining Theme

The document provides guidance on identifying themes in short stories. It defines theme as a core or deeper meaning beyond the plot or characters, while the subject matter is what the story is literally about. A theme requires analysis to uncover, and can be a broad concept or narrow statement. Effective thematic statements closely apply the theme to the specific text. The document gives examples of subject matter, thematic concepts, and thematic statements, and instructs students to practice identifying these elements in the short story "Mrs. Turner Cutting the Grass."

Uploaded by

Katia Chalova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Short Story: Mrs.

Turner Cutting the Grass


Plot Summary
 In a maximum of 3-4 sentences, summarize the story you’ve read and share your answers
with the class.

Reading for Meaning


For homework, you were asked to read “Mrs. Turner Cutting the Grass,” and to answer the
questions on pp. 11-12.

 In teams, share your answers and be ready to present them to the class.

Reading for Rhetoric


**Rhetoric is the study of the effective use of language. As a discipline, rhetoric teaches how
language works, encouraging writers to apply what they have learned to their own writing and
speaking. Rhetoric includes literary techniques such as irony and simile.

 In teams, answer questions 1-4. Be ready to share those answers.

Examining an Element: Theme

Several elements—tone and style, characterization, setting, plot structure, and point of view—
play a role in the development of the story’s theme, which can be said to be the core or
motivation of the story. A story can have one or more themes, which are comprehensive
statements of a deeper meaning that extends beyond the plot and the characters. Themes usually
require being summarized in more abstract terms.

In this regard, a story’s theme differs from its subject matter, which is what the story is about on
a primary, concrete level.

 Subject matter can be observed directly


 Theme requires analysis to be uncovered

George Orwell’s Animal Farm


 Subject matter?
 Theme?

To determine the theme(s) of a story, you might therefore ask, “What point does the author make
through the subject matter of the work?”

When answering this question, it may be helpful to distinguish between broad and narrow
thematic concepts.

 Love / true love overcomes racial differences


 Individual vs. society / individuals are often powerless against an authoritarian
government
 Can you give me an example of a broad and narrow thematic concept?

When conducting a literary analysis, it is important to describe the theme(s) as precisely as


possible, since the purpose of a literary essay or presentation is to determine how, for instance, a
theme develops through the dynamics and mechanics of a text (formulated in a thesis statement).
Stating that a short story is about “the difficulty for immigrants to construct an identity that
embraces two cultures” is a lot stronger and more compelling than just saying that the story is
about “identity.” Therefore, “theme” is used to refer to a thematic statement that closely applies
to the text under analysis.

Practice
Identify the following examples as subject matter (S), thematic concepts (TC), or Thematic
statements (TS).

1. Two young lovers from feuding families kills themselves because they do not want to
live without the other person.
2. Love
3. The forcefulness of love can lead people to prefer death over being separated from the
person they love.
4. The danger of totalitarian regimes
5. A man goes to great lengths to oppose the regime of Big Brother, but finally succumbs.
6. Through the abuse of power and control, totalitarian regimes annihilate personal freedom
of their citizens.

 Working in teams, examine the theme of “Mrs. Turner Cutting the Grass.”
o Identify the subject matter, thematic concept, and thematic statement.

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