For Watsons Go to Birmingham, I'm asking you to write an essay wherein you determine a theme and illustrate how that theme is conveyed through ONE of the following liteary devices.

• Characterization
• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Setting
• Irony
• Imagery
• Conflict

For definitions of the above follow this link: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/literature/bedlit/glossary_a.htm

Remember, a theme will be a complete sentence and will say something about the human condition.

As usual, this essay should be a minimum of 700 words. Please include your word count.

Class notes on identifying a theme: http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/slstewart/F06305SampleTheme.htm

Skeletons in the Closet, Bodies in the Attic:
Power and Perversion of Love in "My Last Duchess" and "A Rose for Emily"

It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and there are innumerable examples of this proverb in action through history. Power and authority have a way of making those who possess these in too great a quantity lose their grasp on their own humanity and do things that society generally frowns upon. In Robert Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess," a Duke tells the story of his last wife and the jealousy and anger she unwittingly inspires in him by treating him no differently than she would a common man. He has her portrait painted and then kills her--never allowing anyone to see the portrait except by his leave--thereby reestablishing control and power over what he sees as one of his prized possession. William Faulkner's short story, "A Rose for Emily," presents a similar situation. Emily is a character whose slow and tragic all from power in her town causes her to kill a would-be lover and keep the body in a locked room in her house so that she won't lose everyone and everything she once took for granted. Through characterization of the Duke in Browning's poem and Miss Emily in Faulkner's story, the authors demonstrate how jealously and perversion can corrupt and pervert relationships.

The part in red above is the actual theme. This writer is demonstrating how characterization conveys the theme. Put together, these form a thesis. Your first paragraph will probably begin with some kind of important observation that helps readers contextualize the theme of what you're about to write. It might also introduce the title and author of the work about which you are writing and a brief summary of the text. It will also probably include the theme and thesis at the end of the first paragraph. (Your thesis will include the theme and literary element. Your thesis should be a "blueprint" or promise about the argument)

As you requested, I've posted the notes we made in class. This isn't my best writing, but I wanted to make this available to you, and I won't have the chance to do that until much later if I don't do it now

Thesis statement
Through ______ (literary element), Spinelli demonstrates that ____________) theme.

If you're thinking of doing characterization, identify how the character is described. For instance, with Maniac:

Larger-than-life
Fearless
Colorblind
Lonely
Loving
Passionate about reading
Compassionate
Independent

Find evidence in the text that supports these characterizations.

Thesis statement: Through characterization, Spinelli demonstrates that a family can be made of anyone.

Sample:

Historically, race in the United States has been an issue. From the time whites captured Africans and brought them to this land, this nation has experienced disagreement, strife, and conflict. How ridiculous. We know that genetically, there is no difference; still race has a way of separating Americans. Certainly that can be said for Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee in Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee, a novel about a young white boy who tries and eventually succeeds in crossing color lines. He does this in an interesting way through family, for Spinelli demonstrates through characterization, that a family can be made of anyone, regardless of their race.

Finding and keeping a family isn't easy for Maniac. He is orphaned at a young age when his parents are killed. He then goes to live with is Aunt and Uncle, but they do nothing but fight. And then, Maniac runs away and he makes a home in a zoo--with buffaloes of all things--in Two Mills. He initally goes to the east end of Two Mills. He doesn't realize it, but he mistakenly crosses the street and finds himself in the "wrong" part of town for a young white boy. As he crosses over, he encounters Amanda Beale, a young black girl, who carries a suitcase full of books with her. We soon discover, however, that it makes no difference to Maniac the color of Amanda's skin. In fact, Maniac sees himself in her. The narrator tells us, "he figured she was like him, running away, so he stopped and said 'hi'" (10). In other words, he doesn't see color in the reflection. He sees a kindred soul. And she and her family will eventually invite him--a young white boy--into their home.