Consider the following quotations from the excerpts you read. They deal with the topic of journeys, adventure, and travel, significant topics in this story. Think about the lessons or observations of human experience that arise.

I now know, by an almost fatalistic conformity with the facts, that my destiny is to travel, or perhaps it's better to say that traveling is our destiny, because Alberto feels the same.

Still there are moments when I think with profound longing of those wonderful areas in our south. Perhaps one day, tired of circling the world, I'll return to Argentina and settle in the Andean lakes, if not indefinitely then at least for a pause while I shift from one understanding of the world to another. (p. 45)

AND

There we understood our vocation, our true vocation, was to move for eternity along the roads and seas of the world. Always curious, looking into everything that came before our eyes, sniffing out each corner but only ever faintly-not setting down roots in any land or staying long enough to see the substratum of things; the outer limits would suffice (p. 76).

Consider the following questions:

How do these quotations help you understand the message or theme of this memoir?

What observations does the memoir make about human nature?

Is the memoir making a recommendation to the reader about how to live one's life?

Write a three paragraph analysis of The Motorcycle Diaries using the following steps:

Write a statement that supports your analysis of theme in this memoir.

Find quotations from the book excerpts as evidence to support your thesis statement, including setting, language, point of view, and metaphor.

Find scenes and specific cinematic elements from the film to support your statement.

Post your three paragraphs to the journal by clicking on the title of this activity or through the Journal main menu on the left.