The Rocking-Horse Winner Group

Question:

acheng5c
acheng5c
Student
High School - 12th Grade

I need help writing a theme statement that effectively identifies the controlling idea of "The Rocking Horse Winner".

 

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Posted by acheng5c on Monday March 23, 2009 at 5:52 PM and tagged with controlling idea, the rocking-horse winner, theme statement.

Answers:


  1. mrs-campbell Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There are many possible themes to the story, and to find one that works for you, try asking yourself some questions about the story.  If you ponder these questions and aim for a one-sentence response, you will have a good theme sentence.  What do you think the author was trying to say about wealth?  Was the pursuit of money worth the sacrifices that were made to obtain it?  Which is more important-having nice things, or having a family that loves you?  Does not having money automatically cause misery? Was the mother any happier when she got more money?  Is money or correct money management the key to financial success?  Any of the answers that you provide to any of these questions would probably work as a great theme statement, because the story addresses all of these issues.  Paul and his mother demonstrate perfectly the impact that greed, indifference, and lack of love can have in a family's life, and the above questions address those issues.  I also provided links below that will lead you to some discussions of the theme of this story, and that should help too.  Good luck!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/rocking-horse-winner/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/rocking-horse-winner/themes

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    Posted by mrs-campbell on Monday March 23, 2009 at 6:26 PM