Looking back over the novel you’ve just read, what do you believe is its main theme? In 125 to 150 words, identify the theme and explain your answer. Be sure to use details from the novel to support your answer.

Here are the major themes in the four novels:

A major theme in The Giver is the importance of memories.

A Separate Peace has a theme that relates to the struggle for identity.

A central theme in Little Women is a woman’s status in society.

A key theme in Jane Eyre is the pursuit of happiness.

Here’s a sample answer for Jane Eyre:

Throughout the novel, the protagonist, Jane, struggles to find happiness and comfort among the people she meets. Initially, she attempts to find happiness with her aunt and cousins. But they continually bully, oppress, or abuse her. Later, she misses out on happiness with Mr. Rochester when she discovers that he is already married. Jane finds her first bit of happiness when she learns that the Rivers siblings are her cousins. However, she still is not completely happy because she is separated from her true love, Mr. Rochester:

While I looked, I thought myself happy, and was surprised to find myself ere long weeping—and why?  For the doom which had reft me from adhesion to my master: for him I was no more to see; for the desperate grief and fatal fury—consequences of my departure—which might now, perhaps, be dragging him from the path of right, too far to leave hope of ultimate restoration thither.

By the end of the story, Jane marries Mr. Rochester and completes her pursuit of happiness:

My Edward and I, then, are happy: and the more so, because those we most love are happy likewise.

Explanation:

when alex falls for the charming new boy at school, cole -- a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her - she can't believe she's finally found her soul who truly loves and understands her.  

at first, alex is blissfully happy. sure, cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? as the months pass, though, alex can no longer ignore cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats.  

as alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose -- between her "true love" and herself.

explanation: