Literary Themes Commonly found in stories and creative writing EQ: How do we identify theme and how does it help us to comprehend the story?

LiteraryLiterary ThemesThemesCommonly found in stories and

creative writing

EQ: How do we identify theme and how does it help us to comprehend

the story?

Look for the lesson in Look for the lesson in the following two the following two stories by Aesop!stories by Aesop!

The Fox and the Crow A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good-day, Madam Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds." The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future:

"Do not trust flatterers."

The Fox and the Grapes One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a

vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," said he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch.

Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away

with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."“It is easy to hate

what you cannot have.”

So what is a Theme?So what is a Theme?

ThemeTheme is … is …

The Author’s underlying The Author’s underlying lesson or lesson or messagemessage

ThemeTheme isisthe author’s underlying messagethe author’s underlying message

the the specificspecific characters or characters or actionaction

Theme is Theme is notnot

1. Ask Yourself -1. Ask Yourself -

Find a word that is the Find a word that is the big general big general idea idea in the story such as:in the story such as:

““Fear”Fear”

2. Once you find the word 2. Once you find the word -- Decide what you think the author is Decide what you think the author is

trying to say about that word or idea.trying to say about that word or idea.Example – If our idea is fear, think to yourself:

1. What kinds of fears did our main character have?2. Did his/her fears protect him/her or hold him/her back from something?

3. The lesson using that 3. The lesson using that wordword

What is the author trying to teach What is the author trying to teach us using that word or idea.us using that word or idea.

Example – fear If the character was trying to get over their fear of heights, the lesson might be:

When you fear something, you must try it to get over it.or …. Don’t allow fear to hold you back

Theme = idea

The theme (or idea) of a story is The theme (or idea) of a story is its underlying message or its underlying message or lesson on it communicates lesson on it communicates about life.about life.

Review the DefinitionReview the DefinitionWhat is Theme?What is Theme?

Theme is the author’s underlying message

Summary:Summary:What questions should I ask to find What questions should I ask to find

the theme of a story? the theme of a story?

2. What lesson should I take 2. What lesson should I take from this story?from this story?

(Large general ideas like death, fear, loss, family love, revenge)

1. What topics keep coming up 1. What topics keep coming up in the story?in the story?