To what extent does distorting the truth help

reveal it?Exploring Themes in Fictitious Genres

Learning Targets1. I can define what theme is and isn’t.2. I can understand the process for developing and

evaluating a “scholarly” theme statement.3. I can generate “scholarly” theme statements.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll investigate how stories stretch reality to extremes in order to help us see reality in a new way.

Theme and Truth

-Theme is the underlying and controlling idea or insight of a piece of literature -Theme reveals the writer’s view of the world (his/her “nugget of truth” for understanding human nature)-Theme is a revelation -- an “aha” -- about a subject being explored

Theme is NOT

-expressed in a single word-the purpose of the work-the conflict-the plot -the subject/topic of the story-simply a cliche or so broad and generalthat it contains no meaning at all

Generating a theme depends on...-comprehending the story first (duh)-attention to details: setting, plot, characterization, conflict, tone, author’s craft (narrative point of view, symbols, imagery, figurative language, repetition, allusion, etc.)-synthesizing those details (seeing how it fits together) to create an overarching message-a subtle and subjective process (there is no one right answer when it comes to theme...just valid/supported ideas or wackadoodle ideas that are not supported by the text)

Questions to push your thinking toward theme...1. What did the author want us to think about?2. What idea stays with you?3. What will you remember about the story a year from

now?4. What did the characters learn from the resolution of the

conflict?5. How did they change or grow during the story?6. Why did the characters act this way?

Steps to Generating a “scholarly” theme statement:

1. Start with the title and author of the text.2. Identify a “big idea” from the text, for example:courage conformity justiceindividuality responsibility standing up3. Connect that “big idea” to a larger lesson that can be applied outside the text -- what was learned? how was it learned? why does this lesson matter to the real world beyond this story?4. Defend and support your interpretation with textual details that “highlight” the theme. Find the best evidence that supports your theme.5. Provide commentary on those textual details.

Which is the best first sentence for a theme statement?In Star Wars, Luke defeats Darth Vader.

The theme of the poem, “Two Roads Diverge” by Robert Frost is individuality.

One theme in Star Wars by George Lucas is that external evil cannot be defeated until inner evil is defeated.

Evaluating Theme Statements #1

Anton Chekhov’s story “The Bet” is about a banker who bets a lawyer two million rubles he cannot stay imprisoned for fifteen years. The lawyer spends his time in prison reading a lot of books about different things. Five minutes before the fifteen years are up he walks out of the prison and loses the bet and the money.

Evaluating Theme Statements #2

The central theme of Anton Chekhov’s story “The Bet” is that spiritual values are more important than material things. Although most people think they will be happy if they have a lot of money, Chekhov argues that money cannot buy wisdom, so spending one’s life in the pursuit of money is misguided. The protagonist in “The Bet” gives up two million rubles, because after fifteen years in prison studying what is valuable in life, he comes to the conclusion that most people wrongly “worship things, not ideas” and “take falsehood for truth and ugliness for beauty.” These quotes indicate that the protagonist would rather search for happiness without the clutter of material possessions.

Evaluating Theme Statements #3

Anton Chekov’s story “The Bet” is about a lawyer who gives up two million rubles because he thinks money can’t buy happiness. In prison he reads a lot of books and decides it’s better to be smart than rich.

Genre

Any type or kind of literary or artistic work that follows somewhat predictable conventions (characteristic form or technique).

Written genres can include: fantasy, biography, memoir, realistic fiction, brochures, advertisements, and many more...

Genre

*changes over time (i.e. tragedy or epic used to be widely produced...less so now)*new genres emerge along with the values and needs of culture (i.e. email or tweets)*the boundaries between genres are “fluid” -- and many works could easily contain elements of multiple genres

Genre

Why study genre?*Proficient readers subconsciously (sometimes consciously) use information about genres to read a text with better intention and to set their expectations appropriately*For example, when I receive a bill in the mail, I know where and how to scan it for the final charge.

GenreWhy study genre?*Knowing the conventions of a genre allow you to adjust your reading appropriately*For example, when viewing an advertisement, we might be more on guard for hidden costs or false claims about a product that make it look or sound more appealing*What expectations might you have in reading a mystery?*What about a play?

Genre

So what genres stretch the truth the furthest?

Psychological Fiction Science FictionSurrealism Dystopian/UtopianMagical Realism HorrorFantasy Satire

Genre

Jigsaw -- read your genre definition aloud to your group, write down the definition (in your own words), draw a picture to help you remember the genre and generate 2-3 examples of this genre (in film, art, books, or music)

Genre

Science Fiction -- Setting is a key component where ideas of future technological advances or world discoveries are explored (time travel, aliens, manipulating genetics, virtual reality, etc.). Usually science fiction is presented as a “what if” scenario loosely based on current scientific facts.

Genre

Satire -- a story built on well-known concepts which attempts to exaggerate those concepts in order to point out their ridiculousness. In other words, satire remakes an original work in order to take it to an absurd extreme.

Genre

Horror -- its main purpose is to frighten the audience by including supernatural elements, monsters, ghosts, serial killers or insane people. Uses suspense, mystery and “thrilling” scenes

Genre

Fantasy -- based on magical ideas that could not be real and characters entirely imagined (fairies, elves, ogres, dragons or other mythical beasts as well as warriors, wizards). The plot tends to take on a “quest” journey for treasure, rescue, or a battle of great stakes.

Genre

Psychological Fiction -- places an elevated focus on internal characterization as well as the motives and internal action that spring from external action

Genre

Surrealism -- a 20th century avant-garde (experimental) movement that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example, by the irrational juxtaposition (putting side-by-side) of images or ideas

Genre

Magical realism -- upholds an acceptance of magic in the rational world and portrays magic or unreal elements as a natural part of an otherwise mundane environment...a highly ordinary setting is invaded by something too strange to believe-Often associated with Latin American literature

GenreDystopian -- describes an imaginary society that is dehumanizing and as unpleasant as possible...often involves human misery, disease, overcrowding, suffering, and oppression and extreme control or anarchy and complete chaos...tends to take place in the future or long-ago past

Utopian -- describes a “perfect” or “ideal” imaginary society