Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda - Lesson 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t
• Leerjaar 4

Lesson 1: Introducing the book

Today's lesson

We are going to look at first indicators

We are going to look at themes and motives

We are going to start reading our book

first indicators

the first indicators we can find about a book and its content are always on the cover and backcover. the backcover gives us a short summary or builds your interest. the frontpage gives a small indication what a book is about and should generate interest.

wat is het eerste wat je te binnen schiet?

Are there difficult words or words you don't understand?

What could the book be about?

Why is there no face on the front cover?

Themes and motives

Themes and motives are the building blocks of a novel. a theme is the main, unnamed subject of a novel. A motive is a repeating part of a novel which helps us find the theme.

Theme

When we follow the motives we can find the theme. Sometimes a book has multiple themes, sometimes there is only one theme. When there are multiple themes there will also be multiple motives. The theme is almost never mentioned but through the motives it becomes clear.

Finding motives

If we want to find motives in a book, a play or a movie we look for repeating things. This can be something that is done, a smell, a colour, a taste or some form of other repetition.

Finding themes and motives

It can be dificult to find a theme and motives, sometimes it becomes very clear very soon. Take a look at the next short clip :

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Which motives can be found in the movie? What is repeated?

What could be the theme of this short clip?

Is this a theme you can identify with?

1. yes
2. no

To summarize:

Themes are the most important messages in a book, play or movie. they are often inferred but not mentioned.

Motives are the repeating little things which help us to identify the theme or themes in a book, play or movie.

The coming lessons we will try to identify the motives in the book so we can find the main themes of the book "Simon vs the Homo Sapiens agenda"

Blue's Clues

We will also be looking for Blue.

Who is he?

Is he real?

Will we find out who he is?

Relations

Then there are the relations between people in the book

Who are they?

Why are they important

Who are they related to?

Theme

After careful reading and analysis we should be able to follow the motives to find the main theme(s) of the book.

If we still have time

Get out your book

Get comfortable

Get reading!