The Hate U Give - Themes

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

THEMES

Which of these are themes in The Hate U Give?

1. Racism
2. Injustice
3. Both of them
4. Neither of them

Explain why the items on the previous list are not themes

1. Too vague. It should be "racism and injustice"
2. A theme should be a full sentence.
3. A theme should express an opinion.
4. A theme should be a moral.

Theme vs Moral

A theme is an opinion the author has about a topic. 

A moral is the lesson the author wants the reader to learn from the story.  

Not all themes are morals.  Not all morals are themes. 

Example: Romeo and Juliet

Theme:

Love is so powerful, it can overcome all differences

Example: Romeo and Juliet

Moral:

Do not let old differences go on forever, or it might cause great damage. 

Explain why "experience can teach us things we don't learn in school" is or is not a good theme statement.

It is a good theme statement.  It expresses an opinion, it is universal / general, not specific to a book.   It is something that people might disagree with.  

Explain why "It is important to learn how to trust yourself and others" is or is not a good theme statement.

This theme statement is a bit weaker than the previous one, in that it is a statement that people are less likely to disagree with, but is still acceptable, in that there are people who might disagree with it. 

Explain why "actions speak louder than words" is a poor theme statement

It's a poor theme statement because it is a cliche, something everybody says, and therefore has lost its strength. 

Now... write a theme statement based on THUG for the topic "racism and injustice"

There are more topics in THUG that the author has an opinion about.  Choose three and write themes for them:

• Interracial dating
  
• Staying in your own community or moving away
  
• Having two identities
  
• Poverty and crime
  
• What is a family?
  
• Bravery

Theme #1

Theme #2

Theme #3

HW

For Wednesday: Bring Gold Experience TB & WB.  See Magister for exercises to do for homework. 

For Thursday: Read chapter 12 of THUG.  Find an article on one of the (other) themes you have written up.  Instructions in Magister.