Chapter 4: “Once Upon a Time”
THEME
DO NOW: TAKE NOTES ON THEME
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Controlling idea or central insight
Gives unity to a story
Mostly implied
A Revelation of Human Character …
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Some people are like…
Or… says something about the nature of all human
beings, their relationship to one another/universe
Theme is NOT the moral of the story… that’s too
simplistic


Theme= what does the story reveal?
Moral- what does the story teach?
“ONCE UPON A TIME”---(20 MINS)
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Read pp. 231-236

Mark the text as you do, using sticky notes.
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Go with what you know:

Plot & Structure

Characterization

Titles
HOW DO I FIGURE THEME OUT?

First determine what the central PURPOSE of
the story is

Then what view of life it supports/ what insight
into life it reveals
 Ask…
 In
what way has the main character changed?
 What’s the nature of the central conflict in the story?
 What clue does the title give us?
STATING THEME---OR---THEMATIC STATEMENT
1. A statement with a Subject + Predicate
“Motherhood sometimes has more frustration
than rewards.”
2. State it as a generalization about life (don’t
mention characters or setting)
STATING THEME
3. Don’t use absolutes like – every, all, always, will,
must
USE- some, sometimes, may
4. Has to apply to the whole story
5. There is no one way of stating a theme
6. Don’t reduce it to a cliché… if you can, you’re not
thinking deeply enough
WRITE AN INTRODUCTION, ENDING WITH THEME
TTAG
 MAP
 ModSummary
 Three elements that
support/highlight/illuminate THEME!

HOMEWORK REMINDERS

You should have already begun your essay, due
tomorrow at midnight.

You should have already begun reading
“Welding with Children”
Write a thematic statement about “Welding with Children”
DO NOW
SOCRATIC CIRCLE, ROUND 1

Explicate the following:
“After a session with the Methodist preacher, I went
home and stared at the yard, then stared at the
telephone until I got the strength to call Famous
Amos Salvage” (p. 209)
SOCRATIC CIRCLE, ROUND 2

Explicate this:
“Welding With Children”
INTRODUCTION

Write an introduction to an analysis of “Welding
with Children,” using your thematic statement
at the end of your thesis.
HOMEWORK REMINDER:

Character analysis due tonight at midnight

BTW—how can you use THEME & the
Introduction format in your writing?
Create an In-class study group:
I need six different groups—so no more than 4 per group.
When you’ve picked your partners, sit with them.
DO NOW
ASSIGNMENT:
TEACH A SHORT STORY

Objective: to lead your classmates to an
insightful understanding of an assigned short
story.

Your lesson should focus on the following
question:
 How
does the author of (short story)_ use _(short
story elements) to convey the central theme of the
work?
GUIDELINES

Please follow these guidelines for your lesson:
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Your group must turn in the following typed written work: (all due Oct 17th in
Turnitin.com)
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All members of your group must participate
You are responsible for the entire class period
Your lesson should not be based solely on “teacher presentation” but
should include some activity which involves active class participation.
You should use the “workshop model”
Lesson plan
3-5 discussion questions (other than those found in the text)
5 rigorous multiple choice questions to be used on the short story test.
Your lesson will be presented by lottery Oct 20-28
STORY CHOICES

“Civil Peace” by Chinua Achebe (509)

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin (524)

“The Gilded Six-Bits” by Zora Neale Hurston (553)
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“A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell (534)
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“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner (526)
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“A & P” by John Updike (624)
Read and take notes on pp. 237-244 , Point of View, & pp. 261-269, “The
Lottery”
HOMEWORK
AFTER LUNCH STUDY GROUPS--AGENDA
1.
Assign a group member to take notes on what
you discuss. They will hand it in at the end of the
class.
2.
Review your test planning calendar. What should
you have done by now? Who did it/is doing it?
3.
Discuss your ideas for the lesson. Begin reading.