ENG 112 – “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson
Theme Analysis Essay
The theme of a work of literature is the comment the author makes about his subject matter, a generalization it communicates about life. At times, the author’s theme may not confirm of agree with your own beliefs, but even then, if it is skillfully written, the work will still have a theme that illuminates some aspects of true human experience.
Writing your Essay
- Introduction
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- Use one or two sentences to express your personal opinions on the subject of the book
- State the theme you conclude from the book(thesis)
- Describe in general, how the author expresses such theme, i.e. by using characterization, symbolism, setting or conflicts, etc. (this will be where you lead in to your body paragraphs)
- Body (Supporting Paragraphs- 3)
Write three paragraphs to explain how the author expresses the theme in his book. To describe each example, you need to include the following information. You will need to provide at least three examples from the book to illustrate the theme, which will be the components of your three body paragraphs. Don’t rely on the quotes to explain themselves. You need to lead into the quote, and also comment on the quote after you quote it. You need to effectively show how the quote helps to prove your point.
- Conclusion
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- Restate your theme
- What did you think of the theme? How has it affected you?
