clue #3 (continued)

(im sorry i forgot to post this up ms. lillo!)

1. How can you figure out a theme in a short story? Describe the process.
-First, you should look at the title of a story. Why would the author choose this specific title? Try to find the main idea of the title.
-Second, consider the main character. What are the major conflicts that the character has to go through? Think about all of the conflicts, including internal and external. What struggles does the main character have to face that later on changes who they are?
-Third, find the climax of the story. What decision does the main character make that forces them to change as a result? Try to think of ways this relates to the original conflicts that hinder your main character. Is there a similarity between these two?
-Lastly, consider the resolution. How does the story come to a close? How has the character changed now that the conflics have been resolved?

2. What is the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" and how does this theme relate to your own life?
I am not sure what the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" is. However, if I had to put it into a theme statement, I think it might be something like this.
Theme statement: Its best to leave the past in the past.
I think that this can be a universal theme as well. I can sit here and think of many occasions where I did something wrong to some one or I was wronged by some one else. However, I know that it doesn't help you to think about things you can't change. Its better to tell the person something then and there instead of keep your emotions inside yourself and never get them out. Thinking about something that happened a long time ago and being angry with something that happened or that you did won't change anything. If there's something you can't change, then why waste your time trying to do something futily? The best thing to do is to come to terms with yourself and either forget the past or try to learn from your experiences. I think this is something that Doug couldn't do. His negative emtions overpowered everything else that he had shared with his friend/bully.

3. How is a moral of a story different from a theme?
A moral of a story usually teaches something. It is like the daily lesson learned in a classroom. The whole story is created for the purpose of teaching the reader something they should or shouldn't do. The moral of the story is also usually simple and concise. It is usually direct to the reader and can be easily identified. The theme of a story however is different from a moral in many ways. While both the theme and the moral of a story send a message to the reader, the theme is broader than a moral. The theme is the central idea behind the story and it is the author's message about humanity to the reader. A story can have both a moral and a theme that is completely different. A story can also have a moral and a theme that are similiar in some aspects.

4. Read John 3:16. Is this a theme statement for God's story? How does this relate to the truth you might find in literature?
I personally don't think that John 3:16 is the theme statement for God's story...Wouldn't the theme of God's story be to have humanity love him and fulfill their purose on Earth and later on in Heaven in worshipping him? John 3:16 would be God's theme in how humanity can achieve eternal life...(I'm not sure but I think I need some help on this question)