Themes in Esperanza Rising

In Esperanza Rising, there are many themes that are present. Some relate to our last module on human rights and new topics emerge as well. Themes that can be discussed in this novel are:

·      Perseverance

·      Society and Class

·      Justice and Judgement

·      Poverty

·      Hopes and Dreams

·      Visions of America

I will ask two students per chapter to post a discussion comment on a theme they notice while reading. You should provide a theme you notice and the example (including page number) to support this theme. As we work our way through the text, students should contribute to others' interpretations and understandings as well as build new ideas.

Here is a classic example of a theme in literature:

The Tortoise and the Hare!

Mitchell, J. (June 17, 2010). The Tortoise and the Hare (Disney 1934). [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeZe2qPLPh0

This story is a big metaphor, in which the animals represent a slow and steady person and a fast but careless person. The big idea, or theme, of the fable is that perseverance pays off, or as you may have heard, "slow and steady wins the race".