Theme
The universal message or lesson of a story/written work.
What is the definition of theme?
The attitude that the speaker/author has towards his/her subject (writing).
What is tone?
The narrator/author/another character/the character themselves make direct statements about who they are.
What is direct characterization?
Conflict occurs when two forces (The Protagonist and the Antagonist) work against each other.
What is conflict?
The process of creating fictional characters that have the same depth and complexity as real-life people. This should include a 'character arc'.
What is character development?
The single word that represents the message/lesson of a story.
What is a Theme Topic?
The attitude that the reader interprets from a story/written work.
What is mood?
The narrator/author/another character/the character themselves reveal who the character is based on the STEAL elements.
(Say/Think/Effect on others/Act/Look)
What is Indirect Characterization?
A character has an internal struggle with themselves.
What is Character vs. Self?
The character's personal growth and adaptation to the story's obstacles/conflicts.
What is a character arc?
The full statement that represents the message or lesson of the story.
What is a theme statement?
Anxious, Concerned, Paranoid, Somber, and Pitiful.
( Hint: These are all examples!)
What are Sorrowful/Fearful/Worried Tone/Mood words?
The character is showing who they are through their actions.
What is indirect characterization?
Emma struggles with jealousy, guilt, and feelings of inadequacy due to her family’s financial situation and her envy of the Bakers.
What is Emma’s internal conflict in the story?
Authors develop characters who go through similar struggles to humans in order to engage the reader.
How do authors effectively connect the readers to the story?
The true meaning of Christmas is about kindness, generosity, and connections with others, rather than material possessions.
What is the theme statement for the passage?
At the beginning, the tone is gloomy and resentful as Emma focuses on her family’s struggles and envies others. By the end, the tone becomes hopeful and heartwarming as Emma finds joy in helping others.
What is the change of the story's tone from the beginning to the end?
"Her father had been laid off from work, and her family couldn’t afford the extravagant celebrations they were used to." (Smith)
This quote explains the emotions/feelings/motivations of the main character.
What is an example of indirect characterization?
Her family’s financial hardships make her resentful because she does not have the same wealth as others in her community.
What is an example of character vs. society?
At first, Emma resents the Bakers for their apparent wealth and happiness. After learning about their struggles and helping them, she gains empathy and begins to appreciate the value of kindness.
How does Emma’s attitude toward the Bakers change over the story?
The story highlights Emma’s shift from focusing on what her family lacks to finding joy in giving to others. The Bakers’ reciprocal gesture also reinforces that meaningful actions matter more than expensive gifts.
How does the story emphasize kindness over material wealth?
Words like "kindness," "Christmas spirit," and "connection" in the final scene.
What words or actions create a warm/hopeful mood in the story’s conclusion?
"Emma noticed her neighbors, the Bakers, were celebrating with their usual grand display. They always had the biggest tree and the brightest lights." (Smith)
This quote explains the emotions/feelings/motivations of the main character.
What is an example of indirect characterization?
1) This can be mental, physical, or emotional problems with another person or small group of people.
2) This is when the conflict comes from laws, community, and/or social pressures.
1) What is character vs. character?
2) What is character vs. society?
The moment Emma decides to bake cookies and shovel snow for the Bakers, despite her family’s own struggles, reveals her growth from self-pity to selflessness.
What moment from the story shows Emma has grown as a person?