Student Name: Emma Stanard 

Title of Work : ​For the Time Being 

 
  Character   Theme   Plot   Connection to the seven 
Choose a character or pair of  Choose a theme in work and  Choose an aspect of the plot  concepts: (identity, culture, 
characters and what purpose  explain its significance to the  (point of view, conflict,  creativity, communication, 
they serve in the work. Then,  work as a whole. Then, describe  resolution, etc) and explain how  perspective, transformation, 
describe how the author  how the author conveys this  the author crafts the work as a  and representation) 
achieves this purpose.    theme.    whole.    Choose at least one of the seven 
concepts and explain how the 
style and content of the work 
relates to the concept.  
 

5-7 sentence  Teilhard is a scientist,  A prominent theme in Dillard’s  The lack of a clear plot is an  Dillard’s style and the themes 
explanation of ideas  specifically a paleontologist.  work is the insignificance of  interesting choice on the part of  she chooses to focus on relate to 
in the work.   He is also a very religious man  individuals. The overall  the author. Dillard chooses to  the idea of identity in several 
and philosopher. Dillard  significance of an individual  share her musings in the form of  ways. She focuses on the 
references him throughout  diminishes with time. Dillard  shorter sections by topics rather  identity of an individual as well 
For the Time Being​. Often he  comes back to this concept in  than a linear plot. The shorter  as their relationship to the whole 
serves to show the  many sections of the book. She  sections within chapters tie  of humanity. She explores how 
juxtaposition and coexisting  contemplates one person’s  together as the book goes on.  one person’s identity can shape 
of religion and science. He  insignificance compared to the  She uses these sections to  those around them. She also 
plays a role in several  whole of humanity. In contrast,  explore different aspects of life.  explores how that identity 
different motifs, including  she also contemplates the  The sections (birth, clouds,  ultimately is lost to time as 
burial and layers/erosion.  impact individuals can have.  china, etc.) repeat in each  individuals and entire 
chapter.  civilizations are lost and 
forgotten. While there are 
people like Teilhard and 
Emperor Qin whose identities 
are remembered even after they 
are gone, Dillard explores how 
ultimately individual identities 
 simply become part of a whole 
civilization as time passes. And 
the identities of these whole 
civilizations are eventually 
forgotten. 

Author technique or  - Motifs  - Motifs (burial, layers,  - Motifs  - Motifs (burial, layers, 
strategies (bullet  - Characterization  birds, water, etc.)  - Structure - sections  etc.) 
points)  - Repetition (he shows  - Characters   - Style   - Characters (Teilhard, 
  up throughout the  - Emperor Qin  Qin) 
You may wish to  whole work)?  - Teilhard  - Style (sarcasm, 
consider: motifs,  - Statistics &  rhetorical questioning) 
symbols, character  understatements 
foils, narrative 
technique, plot 
structure.