Purchase Solution

Writing for Theme

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

The title is repeated many times throughout the story. How does the narrator classify the things they carried? Can you see meaning in the way he orders the categories? How do "the things they carried" serve to reveal theme?

Next, the narrator describes long periods of tedious activity and boredom shattered by flashes of terror and death. How does this narrative structure reveal the story's theme? In other words, what does O'Brien say about war and how it shapes or distorts the fundamental human condition (what it means to be human in the world)?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Preview

Dear Student:

This is a story I know very well. I have taught it several times. "Things" are categorized by weight and that weight is attached to the "thing" itself. For example, Kiowa carries a Bible and also a hatchet, right? These two things then come to represent the duality of his upbringing. In his case, they represent the fact that he is torn between the Christian and the pagan--two different belief systems. That is his dilemma; in other words, the weight he carries as a Native American in a ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
The Third Wave Reading Comprehension

Check students' understanding of initial reading of The Third Wave (found at http://libcom.org/history/the-third-wave-1967-account-ron-jones). Great ESL exercise!

Subject and Verb Agreement

For writing to sound intelligent and correct, one must make sure to have their subjects and verbs agree in number (i.e. singular or plural). For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb or verb phrase to complete the sentence.

Introductory Vocabulary for "The Pearl"

Introductory Vocabulary Terms for "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck. The novella that presents a family in Mexico who suddenly has riches and the impact on their lives.

How to use Homonyms

Homonyms are words that sound the same, but have different meanings. See if you can tell which word goes with each sentence.

Chapters 1 and 2 - Current Issues and Enduring Questions

This quiz addresses the main themes present in a handful of the essays (specifically including "He Saves All His Critical Thinking for My Behavior", "The Florida Case", "Driver’s Licenses and Dropouts", "Military Women in Combat: Why Making It Official Matters", "A First Amendment Junkie", "Executions Should Be Televised", and "Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should be Revised") that are frequently assigned to English 102 students.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • three different contemporary art forms

    (Writing) For music, the only song I can think of is "Shutting Detroit Down" by John Rich. Hi there, this is attached as a document because it has graphics that are embedded in the paper.

  • Didion's writing

    Didion's writing is assessed in terms of techniques.

  • Analyze a Short Story by Tim O'Brien

    Step Four: For example, one major theme in On the Rainy River is the theme of shame and embarrassment. It's an easy theme to identify because Tim O'Brien reveals it explicitly to his readers.

  • Pagan Night analysis

    When I consider what I wrote, the theme I discover is this: sometimes people box themselves into corners, and when that happens, it is best to ask for help.

  • Exploration of Love through paintings and poetry

    He was well-known as a modernist, and also for his use of color. L'Anniversaire was painted one day after his wife decorated the house with scarves and flowers for his birthday. (See above for more details on the painting.)

  • Character

    Theme makes a story memorable. Part of the reason that theme is not discussed very much in writing workshops is that the primary problem with many stories is lack of coherence.

  • Coffee shop mission and vision

    I need help in writing a vision, mission and value statement for an eco-friendly coffee shop with a jungle theme.

  • Analyzing Imagery in Poetry

    writing imagery ("Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen")--theme: The future is unpredictable. battle imagery ("There's a battle outside And it is ragin')--theme: Those who prevent change will become casualties of the future.

  • Story Elements

    For example, if writing about death from the decreased character's viewpoint, readers may feel more sympathy than if the author chooses to write from the evil murderer's viewpoint.

  • Writing a Literary Research Paper Proposal

    Thanks for using BrainMass! Direction for writing a proposal statement for a literary reserach paper. Three example statements provided for three varied works as models.

View More Related Solutions