THEME

Steps for finding a theme

1. Pick a topic; 2. Look for examples of how the author addresses the topic; 3. Craft a theme that explains what the author says about that topic.

Requirements of a theme

A theme must be a good full sentence, universally applicable, not obvious or cliché, not a piece of advice, and provide a strong argument.

What should a theme not include?

Specific characters or plot points, obvious statements, advice, and it should avoid surface level insights.

Maslow's Needs Pyramid

A hierarchical structure that categorizes human needs into five levels: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Bindle

A bindle is a bundle of belongings wrapped in a blanket, commonly carried by men traveling during the Great Depression who were searching for work.

What does the Great Depression represent in terms of life struggles?

The Great Depression symbolizes hardship, as many men traveled extensively looking for work, often facing poverty and uncertainty.

Theme in the tortoise and the hare

Perseverance is illustrated through the tortoise's steady progress until the end, which conveys that disadvantages don't have to make situations insurmountable if one perseveres.