analyzing the way a theme & central idea are developed

ANALYZING THE WAY A THEME & CENTRAL

IDEA ARE DEVELOPED

Learning Target: I can analyze the development of a theme or a central idea over the course of a text, including its relationship to the characters,

setting, and plot.

Wednesday, October 23, 13

REVIEW OF THEME & CENTRAL IDEA

Central Idea Theme

Need volunteers to help us compare and contrast central idea & theme.


WHAT NEXT?After you determine the central idea or theme, you have to analyze how the author developed this big idea over the course of the text.

Analyze = break into parts

What are the basic parts of a short story?

beginning middle end

characters setting plot

conflict resolution


WHAT NEXT?So, you have to show how the theme or central idea “is developed” or show how the theme first appears in the beginning of the story, how it grows more obvious in the middle, and how it is shown completely in the end.

To do this, you have to look at the literary elements: character, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution.

Ask yourself, “How does each of these elements reveal the theme or central idea?” Each element will probably only reveal a part of the theme or central idea--not the whole concept.


STEP #1: FIND THE THEME OR CENTRAL IDEA

Example from the short film “Fishing with Sam.”

Central Idea: standing up for oneself

Theme: Standing up for oneself is the best way to prevent others from taking advantage of you.


STEP #2: EXAMINE THE SETTINGDECIDE IF THE SETTING AFFECTS THE EVENTS OF THE STORY

Sometimes setting is VERY important to a story because it causes conflicts for the characters and gives an opportunity for the T/CI to be shown. Think of “Fishing with Sam.” Would the polar bear, the seal, and the other penguins have encountered the same kinds of difficulties if the story had been set in a zoo? NO! If those characters had lived in a zoo, they would have been fed regularly, and the red-scarf penguin wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take advantage of the other characters by stealing their food--and they wouldn’t have needed to stand up for themselves.


STEP #2: EXAMINE THE SETTINGDECIDE IF THE SETTING AFFECTS THE EVENTS OF THE STORY

Sometimes setting is NOT very important to the a story because it does not cause much conflict for the characters. How much significance does the setting of “Nightmare in Yellow” have to the plot?


STEP #3: EXAMINE THE CHARACTERS’TRAITS, MOTIVATIONS, ACTIONS

Characters’ personality traits, motivations, & actions help you see the traits that are found throughout humanity. These aspects also tend to control the way the character behaves, which controls how the plot of the story moves along. This often connects directly to Central Idea: For example, when the red-scarf penguin first took food from the polar bear and seal, they did not wait around for him to do it again. Instead, they stood up for themselves by making sure the penguin would never take advantage of their work again.

The red-scarf penguin’s LAZINESS allowed the polar bear and seal to capture him because they knew he didn’t want to catch his own fish; instead, he would steal food from someone else.

However, because he is a GOOD FISHERMAN, the polar bear and seal decided to force the penguin to catch food for everyone he had stolen from.


STEP #3: EXAMINE THE CHARACTERS’TRAITS, MOTIVATIONS, ACTIONS

What are some of the character traits of the protagonist of “Nightmare in Yellow?

What actions does the protagonist take in the story?

What motivates the protagonist to do what he does in the story?


STEP #4: EXAMINE PLOT CONFLICT, CLIMAX, RESOLUTION

This is the easiest one. Find the things that happen to characters that give the characters an opportunity to show you the CI/T. Think of MAJOR PLOT EVENTS that fit into the various parts of the plot diagram.

The parts of the plot that often show the theme or central idea are: conflict, climax, and resolution.

The conflict is often caused or worsened by the character’s actions or traits. This often reveals a central idea/theme.

The climax is the point where the conflict begins to be solved. This shows consequences of the character’s actions/traits.

The resolution shows how the characters deal with the consequences of their own actions.



What is the conflict in “Fishing with Sam?”

Which character’s traits cause this conflict to occur?

How do the characters solve their conflict with the red-scarf penguin?

What happens to the red-scarf penguin in the end? Why did this happen?



What is(are) the conflict(s) in “Nightmare in Yellow?”

Which of the protagonist’s character traits cause this conflict to occur?

How does the protagonist solve his conflicts?

What happens to the protagonist in the end? Why did this happen?


analyzing the way a theme & central idea are developed

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