Mother Courage Thesis Statements Activity

As I noted earlier this semester, writing a strong thesis statement is all about identifying a clear pattern in the play and explaining how this pattern influences the way we understand the play and its themes. Here is a list of places you might start looking for patterns in “Mother Courage:"

the songs characters sing

Mother Courage’s relationship to her wagon

sexual relationships in the play

the play’s lack of a traditional plot structure

food and drink

prayer

Working with your group members, choose one of these areas of inquiry and work together to craft a working thesis statement around it. Begin by trying to describe the pattern in detail; for instance, if you were to choose songs, you might start by examining the songs and asking what kinds of things can be expressed in song that aren’t expressed in dialogue? Next, think about how the pattern shapes the way we understand Brecht’s ideas about one of the play’s major themes (the two most important of which are the tyranny of war and capitalism). Try to be as specific as possible both about the pattern you notice and what it says about the theme. And remember, a strong thesis statement should:

1. Make a strong, specific, and surprising interpretive claim about the text

2. Provide a road map for how the claim will be supported (i.e. what kinds of evidence you will cite)

3. Answer the “so what?” question (i.e. make it clear why understanding your argument will give your reader a deeper understanding of or appreciation for the play)

If you finish writing one thesis statement, choose another one of the starting points above and begin crafting another working thesis. I will circulate around the room critiquing your thesis statements, but you should also challenge one another to make your thesis statement as specific and as surprising as you can.