Plot, Conflict, and Theme.

Plot, Conflict, and Theme.

.

.

When we describe something that a fictional book or a movie has taught us about life or love or family (or any other topic, really), we are generally referring to theme or a thematic statement.

Theme

Is a big idea in a text, an overarching topic that the text is about.

Thematic statement

Is what the text says about that overarching topic. The next slide will have examples.

Notice How..

• The themes are big ideas that you might notice as you experience these films or texts, while the thematic statement is what the text teaches you about the theme.

• A thematic statement might apply to multiple texts or movies you’ve seen.

• For example, we have read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies where the main character goes home to fix what they’ve done wrong, or where a community pulls together to care for each other, or where violence gets out of hand. 

  
  

One way ....

One way authors lead us to a theme or thematic statement is through plot and conflict. The events the characters experience and the conflict they face help us to understand central ideas in the text. See the examples in the next slide.

Poll

Check for understanding. How are you feeling so far?

• Good

• Bad

• Confused.