How the Theme of Optimism Has Been Paramount in the Development of Western Literature Since 1493
I. Introduction
- Connecting theme of the books I will reference, “You (the characters) reap what you sow.”
A. The books referenced in this term paper have characters that get what they deserve according to
the Bible’s principals of cause and effect.
B. Cite Galatians 6:7
- My thesis: The theme of optimism has been important in developing good literature that is realistic, motivational, and popular.
- Explain how the connecting theme of optimism causes books to become realistic, applicable, motivational, and popular.
II. The 95 Theses
- Cite Luther’s explicit theme of optimism with regards to heaven and purgatory, then explain it.
- Cite Luther’s implicit theme of historical optimism, then explain it.
- Explain how Luther’s themes are compatible to the connecting theme.
- Explain how important optimism was important in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
III. Acts and Monuments of the Christian Church
- Cite Foxe’s theme of optimism, religious toleration, then explain it.
- Explain how Foxe’s theme is compatible to the connecting theme.
- Explain how important optimism was important in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
IV. Historia & Tale of Doctor Johannes Faustus
- Cite the theme of optimism, evil Faustus’s destruction, then explain it.
- Explain how the theme is compatible with the connecting theme.
- Explain how important optimism was in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
V. Macbeth
- Cite Shakespeare’s theme of optimism, traitorous Macbeth’s demise, then explain it.
- Explain how Shakespeare’s theme is compatible with the connecting theme.
- Explain how important optimism was in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
VI. Don Quixote
- Cite Cervantes’s themes of optimism, then explain them.
A. Crazy people, like Don Quixote, get themselves into trouble.
B. If you genuinely confess of your sins and commit yourself to God, God will forgive you and let
you enter heaven.
- Explain how Cervantes’s themes are compatible with the connecting theme.
- Explain how important optimism was in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
VII. King James Bible and Christian Reconstruction: What It Is, What It Isn’t
- Cite Jesus’s themes of historical and eternal optimism, then explain them.
- Explain how Jesus’s themes are compatible with the connecting theme.
- Explain how important optimism was in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
- Explain how the King James Bible’s theme of optimism helped develop Christian Reconstruction: What It Is, What It Isn’t
- Explain how Gary North’s and Gary DeMar’s optimism was realistic, motivational, and popular
- Explain how North’s and DeMar’s optimism is compatible with the connecting theme.
VIII. The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
- Cite Defoe’s theme of optimism, personal redemption, then explain it.
- Explain how personal redemption is compatible with the connecting theme.
- Explain the importance of optimism in developing this realistic, motivational, and popular book.
IX. Add any more books from later in the course that use the theme of optimism
- Cite their themes, then explain them.
- Explain how their themes are compatible with the connecting theme.
- Explain how optimism was important in developing these books into realistic, motivational, and popular books.
X. Conclusions
- The theme of optimism was important in developing all of these literary works.
- The effect of this development was that the themes of the books were realistic, applicable, motivational, and popular.
- All of these books individual themes of optimism all connect with the connecting theme: “You reap what you sow.”
A. Cause and effect in these books were related in similar ways to biblical cause and effect.
- It is important to use the theme of optimism in developing a good book.
Josh Springfield 