Write an essay in which you analyze the importance of plot events and characters’ actions to the development of a story’s theme.
Review and evaluate a story from the unit that has a clearly identifiable theme. You might choose “The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe, “The Story-Teller” by Saki, “The Finish of Patsy Barnes” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, or “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury. Be sure to identify the story and write a clear statement of its theme. In your essay, answer the following question: How do various elements of the story—conflict and resolution, characters’ dialogue and behavior—contribute to the story’s theme? Support your ideas with references to the text.
