Re: Theme vs. Lesson Learned

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On 9/23/09, Tricia wrote:
> What would you say is the difference between theme and
> lesson learned. Is the lesson learned a lesson that the
> CHARACTER learned throughout the story and the thme is the
> author's message/lesson to the READER???

Author's intention is murky ground - I don't go there. But
the theme(s) of the story rather scream out from the story -
they're open to debate and discussion but would anyone say
that the Old Man and The Sea is a coming of age story? I
doubt it.
There is on line a list of common themes - google it and it
comes up and can be useful for a class.

As to 'lesson learned' - there are some main characters who
don't learn one - so lesson learned isn't a term I use. What
lesson did Montresor learn in the Cask of Amontillado? That
he could get away with murder? The story really doesn't offer
any lesson learned by the characters.

Instead I ask students 'what's the message of this story to
you as a reader' and sometimes in that message, students will
suggest a lesson that they've considered by reading it.

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