Question

A young woman grows up seemingly unable to win the approval of her parents. She resigns herself to adhering to all of their wishes without regard for her own passions. Finally, her parents begin to give her the acceptance she so desperately desires. However, she decides she no longer values their opinion and tries to follow her heart. Unfortunately, as an adult, she is unable to connect with what she was once passionate about when she was younger.
Which two themes most clearly interact in this story?

A.The importance of other people's opinions and the fun of living for today
B.The need for self-acceptance and the pitfalls of compromising one's dreams
C.The need to pursue one's dreams and the risk of failing others
D.The importance of individuality and the risk of encountering the unknown

Answer 1

Answer: B) The need for self-acceptance and the pitfalls of compromising one's dreams.

Explanation: In literature, the theme is the underlying message of a story, it is  what critical belief about life is the author trying to convey in the writing of a novel, play, short story or poem. Usually this belief, or idea, is universal and transcends cultural barriers. The two themes that we can see developed in the given story are the need for self-acceptance (because the woman was always looking for the approval and acceptance of her parents), and the pitfalls of compromising one's dreams (in the fact that when she tried to follow her dreams, she was unable to connect with them as she was before).

Answer 2

B. The need for self-acceptance and the pitfalls of compromising one's dreams