We completed our study of the novel today by closely examining the text of the final chapters to glean the author's theme. I had Marcel read aloud certain paragraphs in the story"Sophistication" and then we discussed what precise language or observations of the author contextualize the lives of all of the people in the novel. Marcel took notes from the whiteboard reflecting how the main character, George Willard, has matured enough to retire his boasting and immature self -confidence sufficiently to recognize other people's need for understanding and connection. Marcel then raised the interesting question of why the novel is structured in the third person rather than with each individual reciting his story. I then discussed the relationship between the novel's structure and the theme and explained how structure can create or enhance meaning. In this vein,we last examined the author's view of the role of the writer/artist in society. For homework-Test on the novel Thursday and complete distributed exercise on the novel's themes.