Aim. A writer’s aim is his or her purpose, or goal. People may write with the following aims: to inform (expository/informational writing); to entertain, enrich, enlighten, and/or use an artistic medium, such as fiction or poetry, to share a perspective (imaginative writing); to make a point by sharing a story about an event (narrative writing); to reflect (personal/expressive writing); to persuade readers or listeners to respond in some way, such as to agree with a position, change a view on an issue, reach an agreement, or perform an action (persuasive/argumentative writing). As you read The Analects, decide which aim(s) Confucius had in mind.
Theme. A theme is a central idea in a literary work.
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The teachings of Confucius were collected by his disciples in the Lun-yü, or Analects. The word analects means “miscellaneous excerpts.” Confucius lived in a time of great political and social unrest. His teachings stressed the moral order of the universe as reflected in the proper behavior and interrelations of people of various stations in life. Important themes in Confucian teaching include duty, loyalty, obligation, ritual, social norms, and action befitting one’s place in society. For more than two thousand years, Confucius’s teachings were the official basis for education in China. They permeate thought and codes of behavior throughout the Asian world.
As you read this selection, determine what themes are being covered. Create a chart like the one below. List each theme along the left-hand side of the chart, and on the right side, include quotes from the selection that fit that theme. One example is provided.
What characteristics define a good leader?
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