Independent Novels

• You must have them in class, ready to read by
• Tuesday, 9/12 (A2)
• Wednesday, 9/13 (B7)

Theme

• In the study of fiction, we discuss theme or the meaning of the work as a whole
• Theme is a message communicated by the author to the reader through the narrative of the text (plot, character, setting, etc.)
• Theme is a complex idea; it can be stated in a sentence
• Subject is what the author is making a comment about using the theme; it can be stated in a word or short phrase
• When we begin looking at rhetoric in nonfiction next week, we’ll do something similar with author’s purpose

Theme

• Unless otherwise directed, a paper discussing the theme of a novel must clearly state said theme
• This is your thesis
• What is the novel about?
• What does Steinbeck say about this subject? What is his claim/thesis?
• And this is AP, so a sentence beginning “Steinbeck’s theme is…” isn’t good enough.

Theme

• Let’s pretend the novel is about management techniques
• This is the subject
• The Theme would be Steinbeck’s position on management techniques as told through the novel
• Steinbeck, through his novel Of Mice and Men, clearly shows that management by fear, threats, and intimidation is immoral and ineffective.

Theme

• All of my body paragraph claims then would take a position on how Steinbeck establishes this theme through different components of the novel
• Moments in the plot?
• Specific characters?
• Setting? Mood? Tone?
• Some other component of literature or literary tool used by the author?
• Claims should not merely summarize the plot of the novel

Mice Revisions

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