Name: ______Date: ______Period: ___
“The Scribe” – Theme analysis and open-ended response
SAMPLE:
In the short story “The Scribe”, several important themes emerge that impact the reader.
- Choose one theme.
- Explain how this theme is relevant (important or connected to) the characters or eventsin the short story.
THEMES (choose ONE only):
- Persevering through fear in order to experiences new things
- Justice for the underprivileged
- Having sympathy for the less fortunate
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Helping others overcome fear
- Selflessness to benefit society
- Overcoming fear despite a lack of trust
- Prejudice against the less fortunate
- Using one’s knowledge to help the poorly educated
In the short story, “the Scribe,” several important themes emerge that impact the reader. We learn the importance of having sympathy for the less fortunate. James is a young boy who first notices the injustice (things that are wrong) in his society. He notices that the Silver Dollar Check Cashing Service is overcharging individuals who are illiterate (cannot read). James feels badly for his community members and expresses to his mother that he is frustrated that they are being taken advantage of by old man Silver and old man Dollar. James states, “People who don’t know how to fill out forms, don’t know how to address envelopes. And old man Silver and old man Dollar cleaning up on all of them. It’s pitiful. It’s disgusting. Makes me so mad I want to yell.” James emphasizes his sympathy for these innocent folks and how much old man Dollar and old man Silver’s behavior towards the less fortunate upsets him. When James realizes that he can help these people he is overwhelmed with his desire to help others. He is driven by his sympathy towards the less fortunate in his community and strives to help make their lives better. It first starts with the older woman who asks James to read a letter from her grandson. When she attempts to give him a quarter he refuses to accept it. His morals outweigh his desire to keep an innocent, older woman’s money. Even when he is confronted by the police officer and told to stop what he was doing he refused to give up. His sympathy for those in need was much greater. When he discovered others could cash their checks for free at the bank he was determined to share the news. As a result, he was able to help Mrs. Franklin open an account at the bank and she was able to overcome her fear of trusting others with her money. There are many people who see injustices but do not try to help others like James did. This reminds me of the many charities that decided to take initiative (leadership) and help others after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. They could have ignored those who lost their homes or possessions, but instead decided to help in any way they could. Just like James, numerous individuals, small volunteer groups and charities took a stand to help others. We need to follow the same example that these individuals and James teach us: to have sympathy and help the less fortunate.
Directions: Reply to the following question demonstrating textual evidence and making meaningful connections. Follow the open-ended rubric.
Answer the following questions by following the open-ended rubric:
- Restate the opening statement
- Restate the question in the form of a sentence.
- Answer the question(s) in DETAIL.
- Explain your answer
- Provide a quote as evidence from the text (“textual evidence”)
- Explain your quote
- Include additional insight and make a meaningful connection. (ask yourself “why does the character act this way” OR “why does the character say this”?
In the short story “The Scribe”, several important themes emerge that impact the reader.
- Choose one theme.
- Explain how this theme is relevant (important or connected to) the characters or events in the short story.
THEMES (choose ONE only):
- Persevering through fear in order to experiences new things
- Justice for the underprivileged
- Having sympathy for the less fortunate
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Helping others overcome fear
- Selflessness to benefit society
- Overcoming fear despite a lack of trust
- Prejudice against the less fortunate
- Using one’s knowledge to help the poorly educated
In the short story, “the Scribe,” several important themes emerge that impact the reader. We learn the importance of(state your theme->)_____
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