Theme

ThemeWhat is it and why do we need to know it?

Theme• Think of theme as a universal truth

that the writer is trying to convey through their work.

• This is a statement that is not always a lesson or moral, but is more often just a message or viewpoint of the human experience.

• A central message, concern, or insight into life expressed through a literary work

• Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life

Theme vs. Subject•Theme and subject are NOT the same

thing. Let’s look at the difference:•Subject: this is simply what the reading

passage is about.▫Example: Racing

•Theme: this is what the author has experienced or wants the reader to experience or realize.▫Example: Slow and steady wins the race.

Finding Theme•Writers also express theme through

what the characters learn.

▫Does the main character change?

▫Does a character realize something he or she did not before?

Finding Theme•Conflict also helps to reveal theme

▫What is the conflict that the main character faces?

▫How is that conflict resolved?Two friends find

a wallet. One friend wants to return it to the

owner; the other wants to keep it.

They return the wallet and share a small reward.

People are often rewarded for

making the right moral decision.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEME

Finding Theme•Sometimes the title gives you clues:

▫Does the title have special meaning?

•Remember that the theme applies to the entire work!▫Test your statement of theme. Does it apply

to the whole work or just a part?

Practice:Because of a feud over a piece of land, Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One night they encounter each other on the disputed land. Each thinks of killing the other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its weight.At first the men threaten each other. After a while, however, they notice each other’s suffering, make a pact of friendship, and look forward to being rescued and living in peace. Then they are attacked by wolves. synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki

Practice:1. What is the conflict and how is it

resolved?▫ Two men are fighting with each other.

They are feuding over a piece of land. They put the feud behind them when they were both facing possible death.

2. What do the characters learn?▫ Survival is more important than land

ownership. Letting go of hatred feels good.

Practice:What is the theme? (state it in a

sentence)

If you wait until tragedy strikes to make peace with your enemies, you may not be able to enjoy the rewards of forgiveness.

Let’s make this a little easier…Which of the following themes fit The

Beauty and the Beast?A. It pays to work hard and plan ahead.B. Appearances can be deceiving.C. Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.D. The deepest loneliness is sometime when

around friends.

Let’s try that again…•Which of the following themes fit The

Three Little Pigs?A. It pays to work hard and plan ahead.B. Appearances can be deceiving.C. Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.D. The deepest loneliness is sometime when

around friends.

Okay, here is one more…•The theme, loyalty to a leader is not

always the most noble thing, fits which of the following stories?A. Little Red Riding HoodB. Chicken LittleC. Robin HoodD. The Ugly Duckling

Your Turn…•Now you are going

to get into groups of three.

•In your groups you are going to read a children’s book from the table and as a group you will write the information on the chart:

•Well, line up…

Title:__________Subject:__________

How the main character changes:______

How the conflict is resolved:_____What does the title

suggest:________

Theme:_______