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Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe

Literary Analysis: Theme and Philosophical
Assumptions
The theme of a literary work is the central message it communicates. To express a theme,
a writer may take one of these approaches: (1) directly state the theme of the work, or have
a character directly state it; or (2) create patterns of story elements to suggest a larger
meaning. Themes that appeal to all times and cultures are universal themes.
In many cases, a theme reflects a philosophical assumptionthe writers basic beliefs
about life. The writers literary work may reflect these beliefs.
A. DIRECTIONS: Write Achebes philosophical assumption in Civil Peace. Then,
explain how three major events in the story reflect this philosophical assumption.
Finally, write the central theme in your own words.
Philosophical assumption:
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First major event and how it reflects Achebes assumption:
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Second major event and how it reflects Achebes assumption:
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Third major event and how it reflects Achebes assumption:
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Theme:
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B. DIRECTIONS: Achebes theme in Civil Peace is a universal theme. In other words,
it has meaning in all times and for all cultures. Explain how this theme applies to
modern life in the United States.
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All-in-One Workbook
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All-in-One Workbook