Themes / "Speak"

Themes / "Speak"

Understanding and Recognizing Themes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a theme in "Speak"?

• Coming of Age

• Technology in Society (advantages/dangers)

• Isolationism

• Communication vs. Silence

The Definition

The underlying message or observation about life or humanity that the author implies through a story.

What is a Theme?

• Theme: Some idea or insight about human life and human nature that gives meaning to the story

• A good story should mean something to the reader

• The story can reveal the writer's whole view on life (how it works or fails to work)

What Do We Mean by Theme?

• A theme is unseen and usually unstated

• Theme is an idea; it may give insight into some aspect of life

• Theme is not the same as the story's plot (series of events)

• Theme is not the same as the story's subject

Three Big Ideas About Theme:

• Themes are universal which means that people all over the world can relate to or understand the theme. 

• Themes are implied which means that it is not explicitly stated.

• “Bigger than the story” which means that the theme or message is true in other circumstances beyond just the ones in the story (it applies to the real world)

A theme has TWO parts:

1. A WORD or IDEA- a theme topic

Examples:

Friendship

Fear

2. The message or point about the word or idea (theme topic) that the author implies.

Examples:

Fear can keep people from reaching their goals.

True friendship lasts forever.

Common Themes

• Coming of Age

• Communication Vs. Silence

• Hazards of Isolation

• Beauty of Nature

• Technology in Society (pros and cons)

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

• 
  

Discovering a Story's Theme

• A theme may be stated in no less than a single sentence (may need to be longer) Example: Hard work will always be rewarded

• A theme is not the same thing as a moral, which is a rule of conduct Example: Don't count your chickens until they hatch (This is a moral because it tells you what to do.)

• Ask how the protagonist has changed during the story and what the character has learned about life

Things to Consider:

• A story can have more than one theme

• A lot of stories can share the same theme

• A reader doesn’t have to agree with the theme

• A theme should be supported by reasons, evidence, your own thoughts/words

• A theme will not include the character's name

• A theme is a sentence not one word

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about theme is TRUE?

• Authors NEVER use the same theme twice

• Themes only repeat in short stories

• All poems have the same theme

• The same themes can occur in different stories/different authors

Multiple Choice

A story can have more than one theme.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

A theme should be supported by ...

• your own words
• evidence from the text
• rationale/reasoning
• ALL of the above

Multiple Choice

A story's main theme might be difficult to figure out because:

• Authors rarely want the reader to figure it out

• It has little to do with plot, characters, and other story elements

• Only complicated, adult stories have themes

• It is rarely stated explicitly

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of theme?

• Connor overcame his obstacles with his mindset.

• Risha took a bad situation and made the most of it.

• People's decisions are often an indication of their true character.

• Jack is a follower.

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of theme?

• Inequality

• Hope

• Justice

• Your past does not define you.

Multiple Choice

What does theme add to a story?

• A sense of location.

• An important message.

• Motivation for the characters.

• Dialogue for the characters.

Multiple Choice

Read the following sentence: Friendship helps people get through hard times. The sentence is an example of a

• plot

• character

• main idea

• theme

Multiple Choice

Read the following sentence: A woman risks her life to spy for the Union during the Civil War. This sentence is an example of a

• plot

• character

• main idea

• theme

Multiple Choice

Where can a reader find the theme?

• It stated directly in the text.
• A character tells you.
• The reader must understand what the character has learned.
• Books or movies do not have themes.

Multiple Choice

The message or lesson that the author wants you to learn from the story is called the

• thesis
• summary
• theme
• plot

Multiple Choice

True or False:

The story's theme and plot are interchangeable

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The story's theme and the story's subject are basically the same

• True

• False