Have your book read, fill out your charts with themes, and be ready to write your essay on January 26/27.
Sample Theme Essay on Words By Heart -- This theme got a 4.3 on MyAccess.
Forgiving is not an easy thing to do. When someone hurts us, we tend to want to hurt back, or at least to see that person get what he or she has coming. The novel Words By Heart expresses the theme that it is better to be understanding and forgiving of others than it is to blame and to seek revenge.
Again and again in this novel, Ben Sills is understanding and forgiving regarding those who try to hurt him. He truly lives by the scriptural admonition to “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In fact, when that is his answer then Lena and Claudie quote scriptures urging “an eye for an eye. . . .” (22)
Ben applies his convictions to both small and large situations. When the prize for the scripture bee turns out to be a boy’s tie, and Lena says, “I don’t want it,” and drops it on the desk, she is later gently told by Ben that she “didn’t have to throw Mr. Kelsey’s blunder up to him.” (14) Instead of being angered by Mr. Kelsey’s assumptions about who was sure to win the contest, Ben (understanding human nature) sees it as a simple blunder.
Later that night after someone has broken into their house, left a symbolic threat, and most likely killed their dog, Ben’s response is “But maybe just somebody young. Or angry. Or scared of changes.”
Claudie tells Lena, “ Your daddy is a good man – he believes the Lord meant it when he said to love your enemies and turn the other cheek to those that hurt you..”
Ben unfailingly responds to the Haneys’ anger with patience and even kindness. When Tater slams the barn door against him and Lena comes to her father’s defense, Ben stops her and puts out a hand to help Tater, which Tater angrily rejects, then as they leave, he says to Mrs. Haney, “I’m sorry.” (61)
At one point Lena recognizes “why Papa was patient. He looked at everybody. He really stopped and looked, and saw inside.” (58) Ben really tries to understand other people, and because he does, he forgives them.
As the book comes to an end, Ben Sills holds to his belief in understanding, forgiveness, and kindness even as he is dying . He gives up any chance of saving his own life to stay and care for the injured person who had shot him. As hard as it is for Lena, she follows in her father’s footsteps to care for that person, and to not report what she knows about who killed Ben.
Ben and Lena’s example affects other people, even Mr. Haney, who, at the end of the book, is picking their cotton, helping to get their crop in.
Few books present a theme as thoroughly as does Words By Heart. Though Ben Sill dies, he has overcome evil with good by being understanding and forgiving.
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I made some changes, mainly repeating key words and giving more explanation and it is now up to 5.4.
Forgiving is not an easy thing to do. When someone hurts us, we tend to want to hurt back, or at least to see that person get what he or she has coming. The novel Words By Heart expresses the theme that it is better to be understanding and forgiving of others than it is to blame and to seek revenge.
Again and again in this novel, Ben Sills is understanding and forgiving regarding those who try to hurt him. He truly lives by the scriptural admonition to "Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." In fact, when that is his answer then Lena and Claudie quote scriptures urging "an eye for an eye. . . ." (22) He says that is "wrong, all the same," and stands by the scriptures that urge understanding and forgiveness.
Unfailingly, Ben applies his convictions to both small and large situations. When the prize for the scripture bee turns out to be a boy's tie, and Lena says, "I don't want it," and drops it on the desk, she is later gently told by Ben that she "didn't have to throw Mr. Kelsey's blunder up to him." (14) Instead of being angered by Mr. Kelsey's assumptions about who was sure to win the contest, Ben (understanding human nature) sees it as a simple blunder. He is trying to teach her to be understanding and forgiving.
Later that night after someone has broken into their house, left a symbolic threat, and most likely killed their dog, Ben's response is "But maybe just somebody young. Or angry. Or scared of changes." He shows that he is able to be understanding even of people who threaten his family and destroy something important to them.
Claudie tells Lena, " Your daddy is a good man - he believes the Lord meant it when he said to love your enemies and turn the other cheek to those that hurt you." Ben's beliefs and actions make him the embodiment of the theme about understanding and forgiving.
Ben unfailingly responds to the Haneys' anger with patience and even kindness. When Tater slams the barn door against him and Lena comes to her father's defense, Ben stops her and puts out a hand to help Tater, which Tater angrily rejects, then as they leave, he says to Mrs. Haney, "I'm sorry." (61) He apparently understands that Mrs. Haney and her younger children still deserve consideration. He doesn't blame them for what their father and son/brother have done. In fact, he isn't even severely blaming the guilty father and son.
At one point Lena recognizes "why Papa was patient. He looked at everybody. He really stopped and looked, and saw inside." (58) Ben really tries to understand other people, and because he does, he forgives them.
As the book comes to an end, Ben Sills holds to his belief in understanding, forgiveness, and kindness even as he is dying . He gives up any chance of saving his own life to stay and care for the injured person who had shot him. As hard as it is for Lena, she follows in her father's footsteps to care for that person, and to not report what she knows about who killed Ben.
Ben and Lena's example affects other people, even Mr. Haney, who, at the end of the book, is picking their cotton, helping to get their crop in. What they have done has probably changed him more than any show of anger or vengence ever could have. Though it is a hard thing to understand and forgive, Ouida Sebestyen is suggesting the theme that it is better to be understanding and forgiving.
Few books present a theme as thoroughly as does Words By Heart. Though Ben Sill dies, he has overcome evil with good by being understanding and forgiving, and he has left that legacy to his family and his community.
