Writing a Thesis Statement

The THESIS - Remember that your thesis should answer at least the first two of the following questions; for a rollicking good time and grade, however, take a stab at the why? question, too:

• What? (THEME) - What is the author saying about some aspect of life? 
1. What is he saying about the nature of worldly wealth? Any of the following might be themes in Beowulf:
1. Worldly wealth doesn't ultimately satisfy
2. Worldly wealth is transitory
3. Worldly wealth produces unnecessary conflict and violence 
• How? (LIT ELEMENTS) - How is the author saying it? What literary elements does he use to show the theme you've identified? (e.g. kennings, biblical allusions, typologies, character, imagery, contrasts, setting, motif, etc.)
1.  How does the Beowulf author address the nature of worldly wealth?
1. He uses different imagery (burial, decay, violence)
2. He uses biblical allusions (choose the better part, proverbs of Solomon to son)
3. He uses different characters (Hrothgar, last of a high-born race, King Heremod, dragon)
4. He uses the ubi sunt motif in several key places
• Why? - This is perhaps the most difficult of all because you are trying to consider broader cultural, theological, philosophical considerations the author is addressing. 
1. Why does the Beowulf author use burial imagery to show the transitory nature of worldly wealth?
1. To warn future Anglo-Saxon kings not to build their kingdoms on false foundations . . .
2. To quell the ubiquitous violence so prevalent in his culture . . . 
3. To point his readers to eternal life and lasting wealth . . .

Based upon the considerations above, here follow some sample thesis statements (with the why, how, and what in parentheses):

1. (Why?) To warn future Anglo-Saxon kings not to build their kingdoms on false and fading foundations, the Beowulf author (How?) uses images of violence, burial, and decay to show (What?) that worldly wealth is transitory.
2. (How?) Using several biblical allusions and types, the Beowulf author maintains (What?) that worldly wealth is both unsatisfying and transitory; this he does (Why?) to point his readers to the satisfying wealth of eternal life.
3. (Why?) To quell the ubiquitous violence so prevalent in the viking culture of his predecessors, the Beowulf poet (How?) uses unwise kings, a dragon, and the imagery of violence and burial to (What?) show how worldly wealth foolishly gained and hoarded produces unnecessary conflict, violence and, ultimately, death.