ArtyQueen
10-20-2008, 08:55 AM
Overview: This lesson is designed to assist the students understand the concept of theme and how to identify the theme as well. Through the study of theme and how it is illuminated, students will also be able to see the purpose of using different literary elements, such as, theme, characterization, setting, events, point of view, tone, etc., in the writing of any literary work. This lesson also provides a good exercise for the New English Regents Exam Task IV writing.
Objectives
Following a brief discussion of theme in literature, each student will display his/her understanding of this literary concept by generating a list of themes in Julius Caesar, from which he/she chooses one and writes an essay about 250 words to illustrate it.
Materials:
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Procedures:
Begin the class with the discussion of "What is theme?"
The theme of a literary work is its underlying central idea or the generalization it communicates about life. The theme expresses the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of human experience. At times the author's theme may not confirm or agree with your own beliefs. Even then, if skillfully written, the work will still have a theme that illuminates some aspects of true human experience.
What's the difference between a subject and a theme?
A piece of literature may have both a subject and a theme. The subject is a specific topic of the selection. The theme is the generalization about life at large that the specific selection leads you to see.
How many themes can a work contain?
A long work may contain more than one theme.
How to identify a theme?
Sometimes the theme may be clearly stated. More often, the theme is implied or suggested through other elements. In fact, you can determine the theme by looking closely at other literary elements involved, such as, characterization, setting, events, point of view, tone, irony, imagery, etc. In other words, theme is illuminated through these literary elements.
Identify at least one theme from Julius Caesar by answering the following questions:
What do various character think, say, and do regarding subject-the assassination of Julius Caesar?
What are the main characters' key traits? Does the character change at all during the course of selection?
How do the time, place, and other details of setting serve as a suitable background for the subject of Julius Caesar?
What do the particular conflicts in Julius Caesar have to do with the subject matter?
What do the work's climax and resolution have to say about the subject matter of the play?
What is the author's tone, or attitude, toward the subject as revealed by the author's word choice and other details?
more...Here (http://www.schoollink.org/csd/pages/engl/lesson5.html)
Objectives
Following a brief discussion of theme in literature, each student will display his/her understanding of this literary concept by generating a list of themes in Julius Caesar, from which he/she chooses one and writes an essay about 250 words to illustrate it.
Materials:
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Procedures:
Begin the class with the discussion of "What is theme?"
The theme of a literary work is its underlying central idea or the generalization it communicates about life. The theme expresses the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of human experience. At times the author's theme may not confirm or agree with your own beliefs. Even then, if skillfully written, the work will still have a theme that illuminates some aspects of true human experience.
What's the difference between a subject and a theme?
A piece of literature may have both a subject and a theme. The subject is a specific topic of the selection. The theme is the generalization about life at large that the specific selection leads you to see.
How many themes can a work contain?
A long work may contain more than one theme.
How to identify a theme?
Sometimes the theme may be clearly stated. More often, the theme is implied or suggested through other elements. In fact, you can determine the theme by looking closely at other literary elements involved, such as, characterization, setting, events, point of view, tone, irony, imagery, etc. In other words, theme is illuminated through these literary elements.
Identify at least one theme from Julius Caesar by answering the following questions:
What do various character think, say, and do regarding subject-the assassination of Julius Caesar?
What are the main characters' key traits? Does the character change at all during the course of selection?
How do the time, place, and other details of setting serve as a suitable background for the subject of Julius Caesar?
What do the particular conflicts in Julius Caesar have to do with the subject matter?
What do the work's climax and resolution have to say about the subject matter of the play?
What is the author's tone, or attitude, toward the subject as revealed by the author's word choice and other details?
more...Here (http://www.schoollink.org/csd/pages/engl/lesson5.html)