Cold Mountain Essay A popular theme among authors to use in their works is the theme of persistance and not giving up. A famous quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt follows this theme as well by saying, "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." When he said this, President Roosevelt meant that just when you are about to give up on life, hang on a little bit longer, …showed first 75 words of 700 total…

…showed last 75 words of 700 total…the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on," he meant that just when you are about to give up on life, hang on a little bit longer, persevere, and you will succeed. This is a common theme among authors today as well as authors throughout literary history. Both Charles Frazier and Langston Hughes use this theme of persistance and not giving up in their works entitled Cold Mountain, and "Mother to Son."