Dialectical Journal Assignment for The Hobbit
What is a Dialectical Journal?
The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving question
and answer.” A dialectical journal is a double-entry journal or a reader-response journal. It records dialogue,
direct quotes, or paraphrased events from the text, and your thinking about the value and importance of text you
have chosen, a conversation, if you will, about the meaning of the text, your consideration of the themes or
message they convey, and your reasoned conclusions as to the purpose and effect of the author’s choices.
For this journal you will be considering the themes apparent in The Hobbit. These themes are presented as pairs.
The pairs are considered together. You may see one character exemplifying one and another character exemplifying
the other. The two play off from each other to illustrate the comparison and develop meaning. You might also see
one character exemplifying both themes as the character changes throughout the story. These themes include:
● Loyalty and misguided allegiance
● Greed and pride
● Good and evil
● Appearance and Reality – More than meets the eye (Things are not the way they appear)
● Heroism and Cowardice
● Living In the Past and Going Forward in the Present
How Do I Keep A Dialectical Journal?
Your journal will use a two-entry form:
∙ Fold the page in half lengthwise
∙ Down the middle create a small column titled: Page #
∙ In the LEFT COLUMN, write down passages that stand out for you from our books, as well as quotes, and/or
remarks from our discussions. (ALWAYS note the page numbers in the column you provided.)
∙ In the RIGHT COLUMN, write down YOUR OWN response to the text i.e. thoughts and ideas/insights about
what the chosen text MEANS, and commentary and analysis about WHY the text MATTERS.
In this section, you will comment upon the meaning
and purpose of your selected quote.
FOR EACH passage you quote, you must talk about
which theme you have connected it to and how you
interpret the connection. This may take the stance of
what the meaning of the quote is to you in regards to
the theme you have chosen OR what you think the
author is trying to say about the theme.
Passages from the text—Your quotes
must relate to one of the themes listed
above
Page #
This time around I am focusing on your analysis of
what you are reading, so your elaboration on your
thoughts is important. This is the “what it means” and
“why it matters” as part of your analysis.
Keep in mind that we are looking for author’s
technique, too. You are trying to figure out the how’s
of how the author is getting you to be interested or
emotionally attached. Learning to ask the question of
“Why did the author include this in the story?” is
important here. Again, this is where I can see your
thinking and help you get better at this academic style
of reading.
Choosing Passages from the Text: Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or
puzzling. For example, you might record:
● Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs that may reflect theme.
● Events you find exemplify a theme
● Passages that illustrate a particular character’s behavior in relation to a theme. This might be seen as an
“aha” moment, a character’s inner struggle, or a contradiction.
Responding to the Text: You can respond to the text in a variety of ways. The most important thing to remember is
that your observations should be specific and detailed. You can write as much as you want for each entry. Always
ask yourself questions like these: “Why did the author write the story in this way?” or “How did the author draw my
attention to this? Why did he do so?”
Basic Responses - a C grade
● Give your personal reactions to the passage
● Identify literary devices
● Consider the impact/meaning of the example to your ideas about the theme
Higher Level Responses
● Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style, imagery)
● Make connections or comparisons between different characters or events in the text
● Consider an event or description from the perspective of a different character
● Analyze a passage and its relationship to the story as a whole (eg. theme)