THEME

WHAT IS THEME view about life and/or how people behave

--in a work of fiction or a personal essay

View the author revealsControlling ideaCentral insight

SYNONYMS Main idea Theme Thesis Big idea Universal message

HOW ARE THEME AND MAIN IDEA DIFFERENT?

Theme Main Idea

Fiction /personal essay Informational Text

Not directly stated (often) Can be directly stated or implied

Universal message Specific to text

THEME OR MAIN IDEA ____Chum Salmon have a long and

difficult journey. ____ Survival is not easy. ____ Barack Obama is the best

candidate for president. ____ People tend to follow strong

leaders.

IT IS NOT NOT intended to teach or preach NOT presented directly at all NOT A moral or a lesson NOT a word or phrase (that is the topic) NOT plot NOT about the characters or events in

the book

POSSIBLE OR NOT POSSIBLE Alicia has a vivid imagination.

Why or why not?

AND THIS ONE??? Esperanza doesn’t want to grow up too

fast.

Why or why not?

AND THIS ONE Children often want to grow up quickly.

Why or why not.

HOW ABOUT THIS ONE?

Don’t judge other’s by how they look. Why or why not?

OR THIS ONE Racism exists and will continue.

Why or why not?

You must figure out the theme yourself.

It isn’t stated directly in the text.

HOW DO WE DISCOVER THE THEME? There is no single way to discover

theme. Ask: What insights into life or human nature

are revealed by the story. Examine: changes to the protagonist (cc);

what the protagonist learned (aha) ; or the nature of the conflicts (t?).

Finish the sentence: People tend to…complete sentencesMake general statement vs. reference to

specific characters or plot

SOME COMMON THEMESHTTP://THELITERARYLINK.COM/THEME.HTML

1. The Individual in Nature a. Nature is at war with each of us and

proves our vulnerability. b. People are out of place in Nature and

need technology to survive. c. People are destroying nature and

themselves with uncontrolled technology.

Can you think of examples of fiction that have any of these themes?

EXAMPLES ANYONE?The Individual in Societya. Society and a person's inner nature are

always at war. b. Social influences determine a person's

final destiny. c. Social influences can only complete

inclinations formed by Nature. d. A person's identity is determined by

place in society. e. In spite of the pressure to be among

people, and individual is essentially alone and frightened.

AN INDIVIDUAL'S RELATION TO THE GODS. a. The god(s) are benevolent and will reward

human beings for overcoming evil and temptation.

b. The gods mock the individual and torture him or her for presuming to be great.

c. The gods are jealous of and constantly thwarts human aspiration to power and knowledge.

d. The gods are indifferent toward human beings and let them run their undetermined course.

e. There are no gods in whom people can place their faith or yearning for meaning in the universe.

EXAMPLES ANYONE?

Timea. Enjoy life now, for the present moment,

because we all die too soon. b. By the time we understand life, there is

too little left to live.

GROWTH AND INITIATIONa. A boy and a girl must go through a special

trial or series of trials before maturing.b. Manhood or womanhood is often

established by an abrupt, random crisis, sometimes at an unusually early age.

c. Aspects of childhood are retained in all of us, sometimes hindering growth, sometimes providing the only joy in later life.

d. A person grows only in so far as he or she must face a crisis of confidence or identity.

DEATHa. Death is part of living, giving life its

final meaning.b. Death is the ultimate absurd joke on

life.c. There is no death, only a different

plane or mode of life without physical decay.

d. Without love, death often appears to be the only alternative to life.

ALIENATIONa. An individual is isolated from fellow

human beings and foolishly tries to bridge the gaps.

b. Through alienation comes self-knowledge.

c. Modern culture is defective because it doesn't provide group ties which in primitive cultures makes alienation virtually impossible.

WHAT DO I DO WITH THEME? Themes in interpretive fiction often

challenge our beliefs and provide rather somber truths. A reader need not accept a theme that is contrary to his or her personal beliefs. However, any theme is worthy of consideration in that it is someone's view.

http://members.fortunecity.com/nadabs/literature-theme.html

QUIZ Which is the best theme statement for

Lord of the Flies: A. Jack and his followers become evil.B. Human Nature C. Human Nature is defective. D. People like to kill pigs.

ANOTHER QUIZ What is the best theme statement below

for the story of Romeo and Juliet?A. A person matures quickly when faced

with crisis situation B. Romeo and Juliet face many difficult

decisionsC. Loss of innocenceD. You should not go against your parents’

wishes.

TRUE OR FALSE 1. A theme is a life lesson 2. A theme is a plot retell 3. A theme names characters and setting from

the work being read 4. Theme is a universal statement about life or

society 5. Theme is applicable beyond the immediate

material 6. Theme can be found in every piece of fiction 7. There can be more than one theme in a

story 8. Theme should be a complete sentence, not

just a phrase.

SMALL GROUP WORK In your small group, uncover a theme from the

story. Write the topic at the center of the paper – leave

room for your theme statement. Find evidence from the text. Start at the

beginning, move to the end. You may use quotes with page numbers or paraphrase with page numbers.

Evaluate: Ask yourself what the author’s message about life/people might be based on how characters think, change, how plot develops, what the conflicts are and how they are resolved.

Write a theme statement in the center next to the topic.

EVALUATE YOUR THEME

Is it: intended to teach or preach presented directly at all A moral or a lessona word or phrase (that is the topic)plot about the characters or events in the book

If you answer yes to any of these questions, it is not a theme

Compare your theme statement to your evidence, do they compliment each other?