ThemeThe Search for Meaning Ms. CrossEnglish 9

What is a Theme?

Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.

In other words… Theme is what the story

teaches readers.

A Theme is…

A central idea that unifies the entire story

A universal truth

An underlying meaning of the story

A significant statement the author is making about Society Human nature The meaning of human existence

Theme

The author will not directly state his or her theme to the reader

Instead, we must find the theme ourselves by investigating the story

To find the theme, we as readers must come to a conclusion, or make a judgment based on reasoning and evidence from the story

Theme

A theme is not simply one word, it is a sentence.

You don’t have to agree with the theme in order to identify it.

Examples Money can’t buy happiness. Don’t judge people based on the surface. It is better to die free than live under

tyranny.

Themes in Romeo & Juliet

The power of love The play begins with love that is so

overpowering that it takes over their values, loyalties, and emotions

The inevitability of fate

Connection between love and violence Their forbidden love causes

violence and death

Big World of the Theme.Applies to the “Real” World.

Identifying Themes Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).

Themes are implied.

Themes are bigger than the story.

SmallWorldof theStory

Themes are about the big picture.

NOT “everyone in “The Little Old Lady from Cricket Creek” underestimated Mabel.

NOT “Walter overcame obstacles in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’”

Think BIGGER.

Find “Real World” advice.

Big World of the Theme.Applies to the “Real” World.

SmallWorldof theStory

Theme Statements

A theme statement is a single sentence that describes an understanding of the overall meaning of a story.

It must be brief, focused, and insightful.

A theme statement is a universal truth and therefore, must not include specific events in the story, character names, places, etc.

Characteristics of a Good Theme Statement

1. Theme must be expressed in a complete sentence. “Love and rejection” is not a theme statement. It is just an indication of the topic of the story. What, in particular, is the author saying about love and rejection?

2. Theme should describe the general meaning of a story, not specific events, actions, or characters. Do not use names of characters in the story when stating the theme. You should make specific references to the story, however, when providing relevant details and examples to support your theme statement.

Characteristics of a Good Theme Statement

3. The theme must hold true for the story as a whole, not just for part of it. Pay particular attention to the story’s conclusion to make sure that the outcome matches what you believe the theme is.

4. Avoid using familiar statements or clichés, such as, “honesty is the best policy” to express the theme. The theme should be a generalization about life stated in your own words.

Sample Theme Statements Long held beliefs and values rarely change

unless stimulated by a dramatic event.

When torn between two separate worlds, each with its own set of values, individuals must work to find their own true beliefs.

A child’s sense of identity comes from interacting with others. If no positive role model is available, a child may never reach his or her potential.

Practice1. Refer back to the three stories we have read:

“The Little Old Lady from Cricket Creek” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” “The Ruum”

2. Write what you think an appropriate theme statement would be for each story (three total).

3. For each theme statement, write another sentence explaining what happens in the story that leads you to believe this.

How does the small world of the story connect to a big world theme?