Mrs. Frisby Essay Slides

MF Theme Essay Schedule• Monday: Review the Paragraph Equation;

write body paragraph 1• Tuesday: Discuss transition words; Write

body paragraphs 2 and 3• Wednesday: Review and Write Conclusion

paragraphs• Thursday: Typed rough draft due; Peer-Pair

review; Review the Rubric• Friday: Fixing Comma Splices and Floating

Quotes• Monday-Tuesday: Make final revisions and

edits• Wednesday: Final Drafts due, MF book turn-

in

Theme in Mrs. Frisby

The Introduction:

A major theme in Robert O’Brien’s novel, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is the idea that courage can be found in small packages. This theme is illustrated throughout the novel by Mrs. Frisby’s actions when trying to save her family.

Theme statement!

Seen in the book!

Writing a Paragraph of Literary Analysis

Here is the formula!

1. Introductory sentence (or topic sentence): Introduces the big

idea that you are explaining or trying to prove (1-2 sentences will do)

When Mrs. Frisby visits the owl in the forest to seek help with moving her family from the cinderblock, she must demonstrate

courage.

Writing a Paragraph of Literary Analysis

2. Brief summary of what is happening in the story (1 sentence will do)

Mrs. Frisby enters the tree of the owl, who was…

Writing a Paragraph of Literary Analysis

3. Passage from the story that helps explain/prove your ideas (between 1-3 sentences from the book plus page #)

Mrs. Frisby enters the tree of the owl, who was “very large. Each of his feathery feet was tipped with five gleaming talons an

inch long. His beak was curved and sharp and cruel” (51).

Writing a Paragraph of Literary Analysis

4. Analysis of the quote to explain your big ideas: What does the quote

SHOW? Even though the Owl looks intimidating, Mrs. Frisby enters his lair and asks him for his help. This is important because it shows that Mrs. Frisby will not be stopped even though she must ask an owl for help. This event shows that courage is found in small packages. Mrs. Frisby, being a field mouse, chooses to put herself in danger by visiting an animal that is known to eat mice.

Writing a Paragraph of Literary Analysis

5. Concluding sentence: Wraps up your ideas and MAKES YOUR POINT CLEAR

=Great paragraph of literary analysis!

Without demonstrating this courage, Mrs. Frisby would not have been able to

achieve her goal of saving her family.

Essay Prompt

Writing Body Paragraphs: Writing Analysis

When you write analysis, you want to tell how the quote supports your theme. Describe how!

Use phrases like this:This event illustrates _______This highlights _______Mrs. Frisby’s actions in this event show ______This event demonstrates _________This event supports the theme because it shows _____

Transition Words

Use transition words to guide your reader through your ideas. Use these to start your

paragraphs.

at firstfirstalsonext

secondthenlast

furthermoreas well as

More about the Conclusion

-One way to conclude an analytical / expository composition is to summarize or restate the main points you have made in your essay. -For a more powerful effect, you should avoid simply repeating yourself. Instead, use your conclusion to highlight a key idea that you would like to leave your reader with

Conclusion

Mrs. Frisby’s actions in the novel demonstrate that courage really can be found in small packages. Through visiting the owl, seeking help from the rats, and putting sleeping powder in Dragon’s bowl, Mrs. Frisby does extraordinary things to save her family. These events demonstrate that people, and mice, will go to great lengths to save the people they love.

Theme in Mrs. Frisby

Writing the Conclusion

Wrap up your paper by providing insights into the theme statement and how it is seen outside of the novel. Show how your theme statement represents a basic human truth.

Use phrases like this:These events demonstrate that __________This theme illustrates __________It becomes clear that ___________

Floating Quotes

Floating quotes appear in an essay like this:

Mrs. Frisby has to be brave when she helps Jeremy by untying him from the fence. He worries about getting eaten by the cat. “ ‘If the cat comes, he’ll knock you off the fence with one jump and catch you with the next’ ”(24). This shows that Mrs Frisby…

Floating Quotes

“ ‘If the cat comes, he’ll knock you off the fence with one jump and catch you with the next’ ”(24).

This is a FLOATING QUOTE because there is nothing connecting it to the

rest of the paragraph!

Floating Quotes

Mrs. Frisby authoritatively tells Jeremy, “ ‘If the cat comes, he’ll knock you off the fence with one jump and catch you with the next’ ”(24).

You can FIX your FLOATING QUOTES by connecting them to the

rest of your paragraph like this…

This acts like an anchor, connecting the quote to your paragraph so it doesn’t float away!