THEME IN MITCH ALBOM’S NOVEL “FOR ONE MORE DAY”

A Thesis

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

Degree of Sarjana Humanities in English Literature
Department of Adab and Humanities Faculty
of UIN Alauddin Makassar

NURHAEDAH
Reg.No.4030105035

ENGLISH AND LITERATURE

DEPARTEMENT ADAB AND
HUMANITIES FACULTY
ALAUDDIN STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
MAKASSAR
2010
 PENGESAHAN SKRIPSI

Skripsi yang berjudul “Theme In Mitch Albom’s Novel “For One More
Day”, yang disusun oleh Nurhaedah, Nim: 40300105035 mahasiswi Jurusan
Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris pada Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora UIN Alauddin
Makassar, pada hari kamis, 27 Mei 2010 M. untuk memporoleh gelar Sarjana
Humaniora dalam Ilmu Adab Jurusan Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris, dengan beberapa
perbaikan.

Makassar, 27 mei 2010

DEWAN PENGUJI:

(Sesuai dengan SK Dekan No.081tahun 2010)

Ketua : Drs. Abd. Rahman R., M.Ag. (…............................)

Sekretaris : Drs. Rahmat, M.Pd.I. (…...........................)

Munaqisy I : Dr. H. Barsihannor, M.Ag. (…...........................)

Munaqisy II : Drs. Abd. Muin, M.Hum. (…...........................)

Konsultan I : Prof. Mardan, M.Ag. (…..........................)

Konsultan II : Muhammad Nur Akbar Rasyid, M. Pd., M.Ed. (…..........................)

Diketahui oleh :

Dekan Fakultas Adab dan

Humaniora UIN Alauddin Makassar

Prof. Dr. Mardan, M. Ag

Nip. 19591112 198903 1 001
 APPROVAL SHEET

Title : Theme in Mitch Alboms novel “For One More

Day” Name : Nurhaedah
Reg.Number : 40300105035
Program : English and Literature Department

Makassar, 25 February 2010

Consultant I Consultant II

Prof. Dr. Mardan, M.Ag Muh.Nur Akbar Rasyid, M.Pd. M.Ed.

NIP. 19591112 198903 1 001 NIP. 19811106 200312 1 003

The Dean of Adab and Humanities The Head of English and

Literature Faculty of UIN Alauddin Makassar Departement

Prof. Dr. Mardan, M.Ag Drs. Abd. Muin. M. Hum.

NIP. 19591112 198903 1 001 NIP. 1966 0102 199203 1 002
 THESIS AUTHENTITY STATEMENT

Dengan penuh kesadaran, penulis yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini menyatakan

bahwa skripsi ini benar hasil karya penulis sendiri. Jika di kemudian hari terbukti

merupakan duplikat, tiruan, plagiat, atau disusun oleh orang lain secara keseluruhan atau

sebahagian, maka skripsi dan gelar yang diperoleh karenanya, batal demi hukum siap

dipertanggujawabkan.

Makassar, 25 Februari

2010 Penulis,

NURHAEDAH
40300105035
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Alhamdulillah Rabbil ‘Alamin, the writer praises to the Almighty Allah SWT for His

blessing and mercy so the writer can complete this thesis. Shalawat and Salam are

addressed to the beloved and chosen messenger Muhammad SAW.

The writer realizes that this thesis cannot be completed without getting assistance,

guidance, understanding and encouragement from many paople. Therfore, the writer

would like to express her deepest gratitude to them. My great thanks go to:

1. My beloved parents, Juma’ and Nurbaya for their love patience, and sincere prayer

for my safety and success.

2. The Rector of UIN Alauddin Makassar, Prof. Dr. H. M. Azhar Arsyad, M. A. who

has given me a chance to follow the Literatureb Department so that I could finish

my study.

3. Dean of Adab and Humanities Faculty, Dr. Mardan, M. Ag. and his staff, the Head

and Secretary of English Literature Departement, Drs. Abd. Muin, M. Hum and

M. Nur Akbar Rasyid, M.pd, M.Ed. for their support, help and encouragement.

4. Prof. Dr. Mardan, M. Ag and M. Nur Akbar Rasyid, M.Pd.,M.Ed, my pirst and

secon consultant who have furnished me with fruitful comment, guidance,

suggestions, corrections, and over all support since the preliminary part of this

thesis.
5. All lecturers of Adab and Humanities Faculty of UIN Alauddin Makassar who

have contributed and transferred their knowledge to me that I hope to be very

helpful and useful for me.

6. My greatest thanks and appreciation to may sister and my brother, Dewi, Citra,

Arsyad, who motivated and prayed for me during my study and writing this thesis.

7. Special thanks to my best friends Melani, Nurlinda, Rahamawati, A.Endang,

A.Yeniswari, Nurkaya Bte Bahri, Rezky Fany, Isnawati, Sharil Sasmita,

Alqalbiyullah, Amin Awali, Briyan Permana, Misna Mahyani, Hamdayani,

Muliasmah, Supriadi, Arifuddin, Djuanda, Rahma Eka Saputri, A.Maramis,

Samsul Alam, Zhulkifli, also to any beloved friends in English Literature

Department 2005 with whom I share experience and knowledge diring my study

and writing this thesis.

May Allah SWT, the Almighty bless us all now and forever.

The Writer
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE………………………………………………………………………...

PENGESAHAN SKRIPSI…………………………………………………...

APPROVAL SHEET………………………………………………………...

THESIS AUTHENTITY STATEMENT …………………………………...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………………...

TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION…………………………………………...

A. Background…………………………………………………………...

B. Problem Statement……………………………………………………

C. Objective of the Research……………………………………………

D. Significance of the Research…………………………………………

E. Scope of the Research………………………………………………...

F. Definitions of the Term………………………………………………

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……………………

A. Previous Study………………………………………………………..

B. Definition of Novel…………………………………………………...

C. Kinds of Novel………………………………………………………..

D. Element of the Novel…………………………………………………

E. Synopsis of “For One More Day”……………………………………

 F. Biography of Mitch Albom’s…………………………………………

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……………………………

A. Research Method……………………………………………………..

B. Data sources…………………………………………………………..

C. Instrument of Data Collection………………………………………..

D. Procedure of Data collection…………………………………………

E. Technique of Data Analysis…………………………………………..

F. Procedure of Data Analysis…………………………………………..

CHAPTER IV FINDING AND DISCUSSION……………………………..

A. Findings………………………………………………………………

B. Discussion…………………………………………………………….

CHAPTER V CONCLUTION AND SUGGESTION……………………….

A. Conclusion……………………………………………………………

B. Suggestion…………………………………………………………….

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………
 ABSTRACT

Name : Nurhaedah
Reg.no : 40 300 10 50 35
Title : Theme in Mitch Albom Novel “For One More Day”

The novel “For One More Day” is one of Mitch Albom’s works that tells
about the theme. The aim of this study is to find out the theme in the novel “For
OneMore Day” and the form of relationship between the theme and characters in
the novel “For One More Day”
In analyzing those two cases, the writer used the intrinsic approach in
analyzing the novel because they are closely related to the subject matter of this
research. The instrument that the writer used in this thesis research was paper
note. From this instrument, the writer found and wrote the data or subject matter
about theme in the novel “For One More Day”. And The procedures of data
collection used by the writer were: (1). The writer reads the novel carefully.
Through this way, the writer noted some events containing theme on that novel as
the primary data. (2). The writer collected and read some related literatures to
support the object that to be analyze. This way was used to find out the secondary
data in order to get complex data research.

The results of the analysis reveal that there are two main themes in the
novel For One More Days by Mitch Albom namely family and childhood. In terms
of the relationship between theme and characters, it is uncovered that the theme
family and childhood and with relevance daily activities. The two themes are
perfectly presented by author through the interaction among the characters.
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background

Literature is the aspect of human activities expressing feeling emotion,

thought, and ideas. Also remarked literature is simply another way we can

experience that world around us through our imagination. In literature people learn

different kinds of literary works and novel as one of the literary works genre that

has some advantages.

Literature, often become a subject of study, subdivided into various categories

such as poetry, fiction, drama, satire tragedy and quite a few others. We can talk of

literature of a particular nation, or people or groups of people such as Arabic

literature, American literature, English literature, Indian literature, and African

literature. We can talk of literature of a particular historical period or movement,

which may often be cross-cultural.

Literary work, be it novels, plays, and other literary works already created

one, long before anyone thought about what the nature, value, and meaning of

literature itself. It is not only a reflection of life novels and a play is an

imagination that can describe the life of a more thorough examination of human

behavior, good or bad.

 The birth of a literary work is essentially an abstraction of reality that occurs

in the community where the author was a member of the public who then

described in the literature in the form of using language as a medium of

expressing. Thus, it can be understood that everything that happens in people’s

lives where it is usually the author will be expressed or described about their live.

Novel is firmed by two major aspects, namely intrinsic as fact which consists

of; plot, theme, character, setting, language, style, and point of view. The extrinsic

of the novel is concerned in the study. The conflict illustrated the problematic

element of human life that most are resulted from the social behavior of human

being. The term novel is applied to a great variety of writings that have in common

only the attribute of being extended works of prose fiction. As prose narratives of

Chaucer, Spencer, and Milton which beginning with the eighteenth century, it has

increasingly supplement.

The term ‘theme’ refers to some general idea embedded in a story the key

word is general. Therefore, it can be defined as a generalization about life or

human character that at story explicitly or implicitly embodies. If we hold into

each term of theme definition, we will avoid some of the difficulties student have

in discussing theme. Here three common misapprehensions such as; (1) That it is

the same as a moral message; (2) That it is always made explicit at some point in

the story; (3) That it must embody some starling new truth.

Theme should not be confused with message as though the values of a story to
be measured by how large and strong is the does moral medicine it ladles out to

the reader. There may be a moral lesson, of course there often is in the most

famous works of literature. Many stories contain no explicit statement of theme. In

fact the more artistic stories often avoid making abstract statement to sum up their

theme. Theme its basic subject, the fundamental it explore, it’s meaning as a

whole. The finish work, if it is good will have unity coherence and total meaning

and this we may allied its theme. (Carlsen, 1979:20)

“For One More Day” is story about a mother and the child. When he was a

child, Charley benetto, was asked by his father to choose whether he wanted to

live with his mother or his father. But not both. Then he chose to live with his

father, because he adored him his father went away when Charley was adult. And

Charley was grown by his mother herself. Although frequently he left ashamed

about his mother and he also missed his real family.

Years later, when his life was broken by beverage and regret, Charley

intended, to commit a suicide. But he failed; he was brought back to his old house

and found something surprising. His mother died eight years later still lived there

and welcome his going to home. It seemed that something has never happened.

Based on the explanation above, the writer is interested in conducting study

under the title theme in Mitch Albom’s Novel “For One More Day”, because the

writer is interested in studying that focuses on the theme by using intrinsic

analysis. Therefore, the writer choose theme because it has power to effect human
 behavior, thinking attitude, and their relationship with another people.

B. Problem Statement

Based on the background above, the problem statements are as follows:

1. What is the main theme in the novel “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom’s?

2. How is relationship between the theme and characters in the novel “For One

More Day” by Mitch Albom’s?

C. Objective of the Research

Based on the research questions above, the objective of the research are as

follows:

1. To find out theme in the novel “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom’s.

2. To find out the relationship the theme and characters in the novel “For One

More Day” by Mitch Albom’s.

D. Significance of the Research

The results of this research are expected to be useful information and

motivation for the writer herself and students of literature. This study can be used

as a motivation for other students who want to do further research related to the

topic.
E. Scope of the Research

In one novel there are many characters contain to build up the story given by

the author. In the novel of “For One More Day”, the writer limits the discussion

on many character who have big role in story “For One More Day”, and the effect

to theme by using intrinsic analysis.

F. Definition of Term

Theme

Theme is subject or topic on which a person writers or speaks; a proposition

for discussion or argument a text and discourse on a certain subject. Without a

theme, a story is not a literature but entertainment. There is nothing wrong with

entertainment. A story is supposed to entertain. But it is possible for a story to go

further, to reading such a story we get away from the medium of everyday life, but

we also get to advantage point from which we can greater understanding then we

immersed in the immediate. Such a story is literature. It also gives enjoyment and

escape, but it also gives insight. (Landy, 1972:199).

The theme of a piece is its controlling idea or its central insight. It is the

unifying generalization about life stated or implied by the story. To derive the

theme of a story, we must ask what its central idea purpose is: what view of life it

supports or what insight into life it reveals (Jabrohim, 1983:105).

 Because the theme of a work is seldom started directly, our task as readers is

to make inferences about the theme and to try to formulate a direct statement of it.

The theme of a story is whatever general idea or insight the entire story reveals. In

literary fiction, a theme is seldom so obvious. A theme need not be a moral or

message; it may be what the happenings add up to, what the story is about. In

many a fine story, theme is the center the moving force, the principle of unity,

clearly, such a theme is something other than the characters and events of its story.

According to Nurgiantoro, theme can be divided into characterization, they

are:

1. Traditional theme and non traditional theme presumably tells about something

negative or bad happening in the first story and ended by happiness or a

positive one, comparing with non traditional theme, it presumably tells a story

with unhappy ending.

2. Theme refers to humans soul, as Shipley said in his dictionary of world

literature, they are:

-Theme refers to a man as molecule it emphasizes the characters physical

activities and the setting of the story.

-Theme refers to a man as protoplasm. It emphasizes the character’s sexual

abasement activities as human:

-Theme refers to a man socials it refers the character’s social interactions

-Theme refers to a man as individualism. It refers the character’s as picture of an

individual man who had many of problems in their social interaction.

3. Major theme and minor theme, Both refer to primary level of theme. Major

theme or central theme is the main idea of the whole story. According to

(Burhan,2006:20), major theme can be found by paying attention of the major

characters activities. Minor theme or sub is the increasing idea as fart of the story.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF

LITERATURE

A. Previous Finding

Relating with this thesis, some of the researchers investigated the similar

research. For example:

Nugrahayu (2006:8) studied theme in the novel “Sense and Sensibility” by

Jane Austen. He described about theme. The discussion deals with the theme of

the main character, Jane Austen. In the analysis, the thesis writer wants to

know the theme and the relationship between theme and character. Nugrahayu

used the literary approach, applying the theories of theme, Title, point of view,

conflict, style, plot, setting. Besides, the thesis writer used the theme to support

the analysis. Through the analysis of Jane Austen, Nugrahayu finds out that the

theme of the novel is how the social background of American society around

years 1870.

Heiner (2002) conducted a study on the analysis of theme and character in

Harold Pinter’s “The Homecoming”. The analysis explains about theme in the

novel. The story of the novel tells about Max as theme, he has to act not only

as a mother but also as a father. He has a big responsibility for his family. But

his son (Lenny) sometimes does not like his father’s character. Max always

feels sad and fenestrated, because he thinks that he has failed in becoming a

good single parent. But he always hopes one day his son will succeed in his

career.
 In analyzing the theme from the novel “For One More Day” by Mitch

Albom’s, the writer presents in the form of the theme in the novel such as the

relationship theme and character.

B. Definition of Novel

A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in

story form. The English word “novel” is derived from the Italian word

“novella”, meaning a tale, a piece of news. One particular forms literary works

by authors who express their feelings, thoughts, ideas, and experiences into

literary works and they try to make writing magnificent and interesting to read.

(Subair: 2006:5)

Novel is a book length story in prose form that applied to fiction when

sometimes the author who created it described the picture of life and human

experiences. It is accordance with the opinion of reeve in Wellek and Warren

(1993:282) that the novel is picture of real life and manners, and the time in

which is written. The written of a novel is called a novelist.

Novel is generally though the novel contains about forty-five thousand

words or more. Works are prose fiction of farm about fifty thousands to about

forty five thousand words in commonly called novel. The novel is longer (at

least 40.000 words) and more complex than either the short story or the novella

and is not bound by the structural and metrical restrictions of plays or poetry.

In most cases a novel is about characters and their action in everyday life with

emphasis on the “novelty” of the narrative.

 A novel is kind of fiction that comes from the imaginative thought of the

authors and the describes invented people and events which are not real. A

novel as reading book give us conscious about we are never seen before. It can

make us feel sad, happy or event angry according to story of the novel. Novel

usually illustrate about part of human life such as when they face a set of life

problems when they get married, when they struggled for reaching better

serpent and honor from the society and so on. It could be said from the

definition above that novel is a long work of fiction, that deals with characters

and setting comes from the imaginative thought of the author and presenting

the imitation of real life. In the other word a novel could be express the

author’s feelings, though and experiences in more wide detailed.

The novel is one kind of literature that interested writing and readers from

approximately two hundred years ago. In further developments, the term

“novel” is more commonly used than the term “romance”.

Novel is used in its broadest sense to designate any extended fictional

narrative almost always in prose. In practice, however, its use is customarily

restricted to narrative in which the representation of character occurs either in a

static condition or in the process of development as the result of events or

actions.

The term novel is an English counterpart of the Italian novella, a short

compact, broadly realistic tale popular in the medieval period and best

represented by those in the Decamore. In most European counties the word

roman is used rather than novel, thus linking the novel with the older romance,

of which, in a sense, the novel is an extension. The conflict between the

imaginative recreation of experience implied in roman and the realistic

representation of the soiled world of common people implied in the novel has

been present in the form from its beginning, it accounted for a distinction often

made in the eighteenth and nineteenth countries between the romance and the

novel, in which the romance was the tale of the long ago, the far away, or the

imaginatively improbable; whereas, in the novel was bound by the facts of the

actual world and the laws of probability. (William Kenney, 1996:305)

Among literary theorists we have to distinguish between the novel of

romance, said that the novel reveals a concentration of life at a tense moment

while the novel describes the life of say a large and usually depicts scenes from

childhood to adulthood and died. (Trimmer, 1988:32)

A novel has their own characteristics, among others that raise novel issues

and resolve them in detail. The novel has more space than a longer path than

the other literary types. Environment that affects the story is also presented in a

complete structure and takes the story into the wider development but limited.

Displaying the conflict and climax in the plot or plots by providing a more

extensive development resulting in too different from romance novels.

C. Kinds of Novel

Novel is sometimes called as novella. This means the novel belong to

certain category if they contain some recognizable kind of structure or theme.

Such category is:

1. Historical novel is a detailed reconstruction of life in another time, perhaps

in another.

2. Apprenticeship novel is the kind of the novel in which a youth struggle

towards maturity, seeking some consistent world view or philosophy of

life.

3. Picaresque novel is a novel told in a series of rather than in one all unifying

plot and narration.

4. Nonfiction novel is a novel where author present the actual people and

event in a story form (Hariratul, 1988, 5).

D. Element of the Novel :

1. Title

The title of the novel is often service of function. It may name the

chief character, may suggest the plot, may mention some significant

objects, or may indicate the nature of the story. A title may serve several

purposes and gives both the place and something more. Beside that some

titles aim at suggestiveness. (Hariratul, 1988:6)

2. Point of View

Point of view is important in telling a story. For it determines how

much the reader must know, and can know. Of what is happening. A story
can be told from one of four different points of view. The first point of

view the story is told as though the author is in it. “I” is the character who

tells the story.

In the third person point of view the story is told as it happens to one of

the characters; he, she, it, or they. In the dramatic point of view the reader

is an observed. He is not permitted into their thoughts. With omniscient

point of view the author can tell anything he wants his reader to know. He

can reveal the enormous thoughts of his characters. And he makes

comment upon them.

It has an advantage, means the author can describe the protagonist and

indicate things to the reader that the protagonist doesn’t know. To identify

the omniscient power in each character: we find out if the novelist tells

his/her story in the person, in his omniscient power are going to be

restricted. But if he tells the story in the third person, he may or may not

decide to use restricted omniscient power.

The great majority of first novels are written in the first person for two

reason: (1). It as a much easier grammatical form to handle, we

communicate with each other in our daily lives in the first person, (2). The

great majority of first novels are autobiographical to a great exient and as

such must be narrated in the first person. Most novels however are narrated

in the third person.

 Point of view one of 4 different: (1). Its person singular I, (2). Its

person singular Me, (3). Its person singular He, (4). Its person singular

They. (Hariratul, 1988:9)

3. Conflict

A novel must be dramatic. It must be like on stage, or a movie or a

television play. When we go to the movie. We don’t expect the writer to

come out on stage and tell us about everything that happens, we want see it

actually happen.

It is come with the novel. We don’t expect or want the writer to start

out simply by saying. “once upon time” and then tell us everything. We

want him to show us something as it is happening. We want to involve our

self in what is going on rather than merely hear about what is going on.

Therefore, the story must appeal to the emotion of the reader. (Hariratul,

1988:12)

4. Theme

Theme is what the story about. Related to the moral. The theme is

certainty depicted as a port royal of a struggle between good and evil.

Theme is the central idea in an essay; it is also often termed the thesis.

Everything in an essay should support the theme in one way or another. The

term “theme” refers to some general idea embedded in a story the key word

is general. Therefore can be define as a generalization about life or human

character that a story explicitly or implicitly embodies. If you hold each

 term of theme definition you will avoid some of the difficulties students

have in discussing theme.

Theme is the subject or topic on which a person writers or speak; a

subject of discourse or dissertation composed by a student on give subject.

Theme of a story is any general ideas or insights the entire story reveals in

literary fiction, a theme is seldom so obvious. A theme is no necessarily a

moral or message; it my be what happening in a story or what the story is

about. A literary fiction, sometimes describes one main idea as the purpose

of the fiction that the author created. However sometimes theme in fiction

is implicit in a series of incident, therefore the reader need interpretation,

perception and be careful to catch what the author to convoy the reader.

From reading result the reader tries to find out the theme from story.

Because theme is generally have the character of neutrally in means that the

authors do not mention it directly, hence readers free to determine. It by

himself from the story according to understanding of those fiction.

(hariratul, 1988:20)

5. Style

Style is the way in which in an author selects arranges and presents his

words. It is the manner expression. Himself/his individuality in all sincerity

and honesty in use of his language.

Style consist of all the complex effects, that to be found in sentences

length, rhythm, pauses, climaxes, antithesis and many others aspects the

use
 of language. Good style in the novel writing to day is the effective use of

words, so that they carry their meanings to the reader clearly, logically and

purposefully.

In traditional theories of rhetoric, style were classified into 3 main

levels: (1). The high (or grand); (2). The middle (or mean); (3) The low (or

basic, or plain) style. The function using the style is to colored and more

embellish the lines of the story. (Hariratul, 1988,26-27)

6. Plot

Plot is the sequence of the actions and events in events in a story. Since

every story, true or fictional, portrays human being engaged in actions and

participating in events, it follows the every story has a plot, one that can be

sketched in summary or outline. And plot is the event of a story such a plot

has Aristotle said, a beginning, middle, and end.

The variety of plot:

1. Man in a hole

The oldest and the most popular kind of plot is the actions begins with a

man or a group of men getting trapped in some kind of a hold goes on to

show how they try to clime out, and ends with them either ends with

them either escaping to safety or sliding back to the bottom for good.

2. Man on a road

A plot needs unity otherwise there is not one story, but several. Many

novels and some short story achieves their unity, not through a single
 action but through various stages on the road of life, this called man on

a read. This kind more often found in novels than in short stories.

3. Man in a tub

Man in a tub is a straight forward unstructured, usually commonplace

event, and then a flash of realization, can form the skeleton of a plot.

In narrative, a plot or storyline is the rendering and ordering of the

events and actions of a story, particularly towards the achievements of

some particular artistic or emotional affect.

A plot is the motion structure in fiction. A plot is “the arrangement of

incidents” that each follow plausibly from the other. There is a great variety

to plot forms. Some plot is designed to achieve tragic, affects, and others to

achieve the effect of comedy, romance, satire, and any other genre.

The author plans plot. The story moves from a beginning through a

series of event to a climax or turning point, and then to a logical end. The

exciting forces are those statements or happenings that excite the reader and

are part of the build up the story. The exciting forces are part of rising

action that leads up to a climax, point where the action is at its peak- most

intense, or most dramatic- and then falls off to reveal what happens in the

end. Certainly, a story is not following this exact order, but even when it

doesn’t, most of these elements of plot will be in it. A story can start at the

end in short, the story may start at any point, but the other part will

probably fit in it to give the story unity.

 The qualities of plot are divided into:

1. We demand in a plot is that it be exciting, at least more exciting than the

everyday reality that surround us. Look back o your experiences during

the part of ten hours. As the example, could you make them into a plot?

of course you could simply by giving an orderly summary of what you

did and what happened to you, but would be a good plot, would it make

a good blueprint for a story. Probably not unless you did something as

unusual as falling in love or lived through something as memorable as

an earthquake.

2. A successful plot must have a good structure that is the episode must be

arranged effectively and most important part of plot structure is tying all

the incidents together, so that one leads naturally into another.

7. Setting

Setting is the time, place and reality within which story takes place.

Setting seems to be insignificant element in some stories; they could take

place just as well any time or place. In other stories most, in fact setting is

much more important. We have to understand where the characters in

which are period of time society and at which level in that society if we are

to interpret correctly the other elements in the story.

Setting is what gives the reader information he needs for an intelligent

reading of the story. We must know where the story is talking places, and
 we must know when the story is talking places further more. It presents us

with a tone or mode that hangs over the story.

Setting is the locale and period in which a story occurs. A story must

take a place in space and time, and therefore must have some setting.

Setting as important as the character. It has 3 principal function: (a). It can

give immediacy to story. If the setting is recognizably credible, the actions

that take place in it absorb some of this credibility as they do in a semi-

documentary film. (b) The setting can lend at atmosphere to a story and

thus contribute to its emotional effect. (c) Finally the setting can enter

directly in to the meaning of a story.

8. Character

Character is simply means a person who acts, appears, or is referred to

in work. As a literary term has an altogether different meaning. It refers to

any of the make believe persons we encounter in fiction. The most

comment term for the leading male character is the here. The leading

character is a more ordinary and realistic character, one without quite so

many implications of virtue, is protagonist and his opponent called

antagonist (man or woman who is working for an ideal). (Outline of

Literature, 2001: 30)

Character is an imagery person who acts in a story. We will know how

people act and think through character, what a character does with social

condition and social life, because a character is also a member of society

truth fully. Beside that, it is a particular intrinsic element in developing a

conflict in the story, so that he is one of the things that very important in a

fiction and even determine because it is impossible if there a story without

character that finally that a story line. All conflict or events in the fiction

expand through the action of the figures ( Sumardjo,1984:132).

Generally, character in a story has a certain characterization through

his attitude, utterance, and action for this many ways can be done to

understand. There are two methods of characterization: the dramatic and

the analytic. In the dramatic, we form our opinion of the character from

they do and say, from their environment, and from hat other character think

of him. In the analytic method, the author comments upon the character,

explaining their motives, their appearance, and their thought.

According to the role, character classified into the major character and

minor character. Major character are the person who dominate the story

from the beginning until the end of story. They share active in making or

creating the conflicts and finally finish it. Usually these major character

represent the author in submitting messages or meaning life to reader; while

minor characters are supporter figures, their attendance is limited to the role

they bring.

Furthermore, according to the function, major character is divided into

protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist character usually have the

character of goodness, helpful, patient, etc, while the antagonist character

 usually are the enemy of the protagonist. They are usually identical with the

bad things and very hateful to protagonist. Generally they are troublemaker.

Besides, according to the existence, character are divided into fictional

character and non-fictional characters. A fictional character is a person

whose existence originates from a fictional work or performance. This

character can be animal, gods, and even inanimate objects; while a

nonfictional character is a character that actually exist in the history, though

his exploitation in the story may differ from his historical activities.

The follow are some ways in which readers sometimes classify

character:

1. A dynamic character is one who changes significantly during the course of

the story. Changes considered to qualify a character as dynamic include

changes in insight or understanding changes in commitment, and change in

values change in circumstance; even physical circumstance, do not apply

unless they result in some change within the character self .

2. A static character does no undergo significant change whether round of flat,

their personalities remain essentially stable throughout the course of the

story. This is commonly done with secondary characters in order to let

them serve as thematic or plot elements (Hariratul, 1988, 7).

E. Synopsis of The Novel “For One More Day”

For One More Days tell the story of Charley, a child of Charley, a child of

divorce who is always forced to choose between. His mother and father. His

grows into a man and stars a family of his own. But one fateful weekend, he

leaves his mother to secretly be with father and she dies while he is gone. This

haunts him for years. It leads him to depression and alcoholism. One night, he

decides to take his life. But some-where between this world and the next, he a

counters his mother again. In their home town, and gets to spend one last day

with her. The day he missed and always wished he’d had. By the end of this

magical day. Charley discovers how title he really knew about his mother, the

secret of how her love saved their family, and how deeply he wants the second

chance to save his own.

Mitch Albom mesmerized readers around the world with his number-one

New York Times bestsellers. The five people you meet in heaven and

Tuesdays with marry, now he returns with a beautiful, haunting novel about the

family we love and the chances we miss. For One More Day is the story of a

mother and son, and a relationship that last a lifetime and beyond. It explores

the question: what would you do if you could spend For One More Day with a

lost loved one?

Charley Benetto, his life ruined by alcohol and regret, returns to his

hometown with plans to kill himself. There, he makes an astonishing

discovery: his mother who died eight year ago, is still living in their old house,
 and she welcomes him back as if nothing had ever happened. For One More

Days follows the one ordinary day so many of us years for: a chance to make

good with a lost parent, to explain family secrets, and to seek forgiveness.

Though Albom’s inspiring characters and masterful story telling. Readers will

newly appreciate those whom they love-and may have though they’d lost in

their own lives. For One More Days is a book for anyone in a family, and will

be cherished by Albom’s millions of fans worldwide. In an inspirational debut

novel by the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, Charles Chick Benetto, grieving

over the death of his mother, uses alcohol as crutch to deal with his loneliness,

isolation, and depression and the disintegration of his mother’s ghost bring him

new awareness and leads him to attempt to put his life back together.

F. Biography of Mitch David Albom

Mitch Albom, 45 is a bestselling author, Nationally-Syndicated newspaper

columnist for the Detroit Free press, Nationally-Syndicated radio host for ABC

and flagship station WJR-AM in Detroit, and television commentator who

regularly appears on ESPN’s sport reporters.

Mitch Albom is the author of seven books, including Tuesdays with

Morrie, the phenomenal New York Times bestseller that first appeared on that

list in October 1997 and stayed atop the list for four straight years. Oprah

Winfrey produced a major television movie for ABC based on Tuesdays with

Morrie that aired in December 1999 and starred Jack Lemmon and Hank

Azaria. A phenomenon in its own right, the movie was not only the most-
watched on any network for that year, in its also earned four Emmy Awards in

2000, including those for “Best Actor” (lemmon) and “Best Supporting Actor

(Azaria). Tuesdays with Morrie has been turned into a play, which can be seen

in theatres around the country. With more than five million copies now in

print, Tuesdays bestseller in japan, Australia, Brazil, and England.

Alboms’s Tuesdays with Morrie story has been featured in many

publications, including people Magazine, TV Guide, and Redbook. Albom has

also been featured on several national television programs, including The

Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC’s today show, the CBS Early show, Larry king

live, Charley rose, Nightline and good morning America.

(http://booksonboard.com./biographies/index)
 CHAPTER III

METHOD OF THE

RESEARCH

A. Research Method

Research is systematic process, which is conducted by reliable and

qualified person to sort out a problem with the support of a certain amount

of specific data as the basic to draw conclusion. Research is not only a

systematic process, but using a scientific method also carries it out.

(hamdayani, 2009:26)

This research is included in descriptive research which involves

reading, comprehending, and giving, and giving meaning in interpreting the

data. Used to find out the elements of the novel.

B. Data Sources

Before describing much about method of collecting data, the writer

explains the data. Data in this research can be divided into two categories,

namely:

1. The primary data in the main data as the object of the research. In this

case, the primary data is the novel itself.

2. The secondary data in reference, which has something to do with the

topic of the research.

C. Instrument of Data Collection

The instrument that the writer used in this thesis research was notes

taking. From this instrument, the writer found and wrote the data or subject

matter about theme in the novel “For One More Day”.

D. Procedures of Data Collection

The procedures of data collection used by the writer were:

1. The writer read the novel carefully. Though this way, the writer notes

some events containing theme on that novel as the primary data.

2. The writer collected and read some related literatures to support the

object that to be analyze. This way was used to find out the secondary

data in order to get complex data research.

E. Technique of Data Analysis

The data collected were analyzed by using intrinsic analysis. Intrinsic

analysis is inner or from inside, and belonging to a thing by its very nature

from be treated as something intrinsic, as the very essence of the thing.

F. Procedures of Data Analysis

The procedures of data analysis were as follow:

1. The writer analyzed sentence in the novel carefully and then determine

what are found in the novel.

2. The writer identified the problem discussed on the study.

3. The writer observed all of the information, related to the topic of the

study.
 CHAPTER IV

FINDING AND DISCUSSION

A. Finding

1. Theme in the novel “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom’s”

Based on the comprehensive analysis, the writer found out that, there

were two forms of theme in the novel “For One More Day” by Mitch

Albom’s. They were: (a). family; (b). Childhood.

2. Relationship between theme and character in the novel “For One More

Day”, by Mitch Albom’s.

a. Theme

-Love between family and childhood

There are several manifestations of this theme in “For One More

Day”. Throughout the novel, love between family and childhood is

sought, rejected, offered, withheld, surrendered to, reviled and revered,

lost and rediscovered. As Such, it’s portrayed as one of the most, if not

the most, important source of emotional motivation in a person’s life.

Chick’s father felt it, but he expressed it in a limited way, and wanted

Chick to express his love in similar limited fashion. Chick struggled

desperately to live within terms, but he found that he’s simply unable to

do so, either to his own satisfaction or his father’s. As a parent himself,

Chick felt love for his daughter and makes a degree of effort to do better
 by her, but he found himself handicapped by his crippling

determination.

b. Character

1. Maria Benetto

She is mother for Charley. She is wife for Chick (bonetto). She is a

very good mother.

2. Chick (Bonetto)

Chick Bonetto is alcoholic, ex-baseball player who decides to

commit suicide after he is not invited to his daughter’s wedding.

Chick wakes up and makes his way to his mother’s house. Though

she died ten years ago, she is in the kitchen cooking a meal and

giving him advice. A sentimental story where the main character

gets a second chance to spend time with some who he love.

3. Charley

Charley returns to his old family home, and spends one more day

with his mother, wherein a number of previously unknown factors

related to his difficult childhood and troubled relationship with his

father are revealed to him. His mother assists him in resolving his

issues and getting his life back on track. The day ends when Benetto

regains consciousness at the foot of the water. Hotheaded, drunkard,

and stubborn.
B. Discussion

1. The theme of the novel “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom’s

The forms of family which Mitch Albom’s described in “For One More

Day” are as follows:

a. Family

Charley Benetto's (Michael Imperial) life has hit a major roadblock,

and in a moment it will collide with an even larger truck as he

drunkenly careens down a dark road. The trail that led him to this

despairing moment makes up the balance of this film, which is pieced

together through a series of disjointed flashbacks. As a child, "Chick"

(played by Vadim Imperioli) adored his baseball-worshipping father

(Scott Cohen), even though the man frequently pitched harsh comments

about having no sympathy for losers. Coming in from the diamond, his

mother (Samantha Mathis) tried to soften the blows by providing

unconditional love. The bewildered boy felt caught in the perpetual tug-

of-war between their divergent personalities, until the day his parents'

relationship suddenly snapped.

“Let me guess. You want to know why I tried to kill myself. You want to
know how I survived. Why I disappeared. Where I've been all this time.
But first, why I tried to kill myself, right? It's OK. People do. They
measure themselves against me. It's like this line is drawn somewhere in
theworld and if you never cross it, you'll never consider throwing
yourself off a building or swallowing a bottle of pills–but if you do, you
 might. People figure I crossed the line. They ask themselves, "Could I
ever get as close as he did?. …"(For One More Day, 2006: 5)

As Chick grows he continues to foster resentment against the

woman whom he now also blames for not supporting his baseball

dreams. Whenever he is put in a position to choose between her or his

beloved sport and Dad, he always picks the latter. So it's no wonder he

opts to play ball instead of participating in the seventieth birthday

celebration for his mother (now played by Ellen Burstyn). What is a

little out of character is his reaction when it turns out that the special

day he trades is her last in mortality. Haunted by regret, Chick dives

into the bottle, eventually estranging his own family. But he is unable to

drown his sorrow after he discovers his daughter (Emily Wickersham)

has gotten married without inviting him to the wedding.

“What finished me, what pushed me over the edge, strange as it sounds,
was my daughter's wedding. She was twenty-two now, with long, straight
hair, chestnut-colored, like her mother's, and the same full lips. She
married a "wonderful guy" in an afternoon ceremony…”(For One More
Day, 2006: 6)

But just as he pulls out the pistol he’s been keeping in his

possession and Points it at his head, he sees his mother coming toward

him. Not sunder standing How could be possible, he gives into the
vision and is offered the ultimate gift: an Opportunity to relive that last

day with his mother.

“As a child, Charley "Chick" Benetto was told by his father, "You can be a
mama's boy or a daddy's boy, but you can't be both." So he chooses his
father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of
adolescence…(For One More Day: 2006.16)”.

Based on a novel by Mitch Albom’s, this tale of miraculous insight

and second chances is another example of the author's seemingly

insatiable curiosity about the transition dividing life from death. Like

his incredibly moving “The Five People You'll Meet In Heaven” from a

few years earlier, this made-for-TV-movie adaptation presents its

metaphysical concept without pandering to a particular belief, aside

from the notion that it is shortsighted to believe life ends at the grave.

The story offers other lessons as well, which are applicable to the

here and now. These include an exploration of how misconceptions can

destroy lifelong relationships, the harboring childhood hurts and the

healing power of love and forgiveness. Although the movie contains

depictions of alcoholism, the automobile accident (not seen in detail), a

suicide attempt, a manful of minor profanities and discussions of

infidelity, this quietly poignant story is worthy of an evening’s time.

Likely of more interest to adults than children, “For One More Day”
 will undoubtedly leave you thinking about your own family and the

things you can do to nurture cherished relationship.

b. Childhood

Charley, a broken man whose life has been crumbled by alcohol and

regret hits rock bottom and staggers back to his old house, to find

mother who died eight years earlier is still living there, and welcome

him home as if nothing ever happened:

“A year after my mother died, I did the dumbest thing I’ve done
financially, I let a sales woman talk me into an investment scheme. She
was young and good-looking in that confident, breezy, two buttons undone
fashion that makes an older man feel bitter when she walks past him
unless, of course, she speaks to him…”(For One More Day: 2006.6)

What follows is the one “ordinary” day so many of us yearn for, a

chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets,
and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next,
Charley learns the astonishing things he never knew about his mother
and her sacrifices. And he tries with her tender guidance, to put the
crumb pieces of his life back together.

“So I was a daddy's boy. I mimicked his walk. I mimicked his deep, smoky
laugh. I carried a baseball glove because he loved baseball, and I took
every hardball he threw, even the ones that stung my hands so badly I
thought I would scream. When school was out, I would run to his liquor
store on Kraft Avenue and stay until dinnertime, playing with empty boxes
in the storeroom, waiting for him to finish. We would ride home together
in his sky blue Buick sedan, and sometimes we would sit in the driveway
 as he smoked his Chesterfields and listened to the radio news led…”(For
One More Day: 2006.16)

"Chick's Story" Chick describes how his life deteriorated after his

mother's death (see "Quotes," p 4); essentially, how he came to lose

faith in himself. He describes how he became increasingly dependent on

alcohol, lost money on seductive investment schemes, got fired from a

series of jobs, and became estranged from his wife and family. He says

the turning point to the desire to kill himself (see "Quotes," p. 3) was the

moment at which he received a photograph of his daughter's wedding to

which he hadn't been invited. At that point, the narrative interjects a

quotation from a poem, described as having been found among Chick's

notebooks. In the quote, a dying soul is described as "blundering back to

God".

Based on the above, it appears that there is something appreciated

by the members of child such as power, both descendants of the people,

family and the others will be the basis of the system of child.

2. The relationship between theme and character in the novel “For One More

Day” by Mitch Albom’s

Based on the definition of theme and character, relationship with

the characters is highly related theme, it is related. Hence the writer can

conclude that, the theme can influence so that causes the happening of
 the character. In his case hard theme or antagonist character has big

possibility to create character as according to nature him related to

values. In this case, Chick (Benetto) as a main character has undergone

the conflict. We can see in the early story. Where have happened

character early which later on become root so that other character

which also caused the happening of ruination a family have to die

because the Maria and deed of its own family.

Based on what were happened in this novel, so the writer can make the

conclusion that the characters in this novel were happened because of the

major character.
 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND

SUGGESTION

A. Conclusions

1. The themes that arise in novel are family and childhood

Based on the thorough analysis in the novel “For One More Days”

by Mitch Albom, it is revealed that there are two main themes appear

namely family and childhood. It raises the theme of family in which it

entirely discusses how a mother struggle to take care of her child. The

second theme which is discussed in the novel is about childhood in which

it mainly talks about a child who is able to live and survive in conditions

that are not intact families.

2. The relationship between character and theme in the novel “For One More

Day”. By Mitch Alboms

After analyzing this novel, the writer founds much realism regarding

that everyone has different character. Not only that, the writer is also able

to know or understand knowledge especially about literature works. This

character can create theme because basically characters are like these. It

will win its self and it does not want to give in. on the contrary weak

character or protagonist character is a patient character becoming victim or

protagonist of antagonist.
B. Suggestions

Based on the analysis of the theme in this novel, the writer tries to present

the suggestion for the readers. The writer suggests the readers to take the

lesson from the novel “For One More Day”. This novel in the reality a lot of

giving knowledge addition. For good writer face vocabulary and also

understanding in life aspect. For that writer wish to lay some the following

suggestion:

1. The writer would like suggest to other students to study other aspect of

the novel “For One More Day” because there are many aspects in this

novel which is very interesting to study.

2. After the writer had analyzed the relationship between the theme and

character in the novel “For One More Day”, the writer hopes to next

researcher who wants to analyze character, not only focus on novels but

also of other forms of literary works such as drama, film or a short story

3. The writer suggest to next researchers to examine any literary works

especially the theme family and childhood and with relevance daily

activities.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

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