Study Skill: Theme

STUDY SKILL: Theme

the subject of a work, usually expressed as a single noun or a phrase in the form of a noun

(e.g. the fear of death)​

​topic

the central idea or message of a text, often not explicitly stated in the text.​

​(e.g. The fear of death can be an obsession in some people).

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theme

theme vs. topic

Topic: love

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Theme:​ Love can often lead people to act irrationally.

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​Romeo and juliet

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Topic: science

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Theme:​ Science is a powerful tool that can have dangerous consequences if misused.

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​Jurassic park

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Topic: science

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Theme:​ Science is a powerful tool that can have dangerous consequences if misused.

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​Jurassic park

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Topic: perseverance

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Theme:​ Through perseverance, it is possible to achieve great things.

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​rocky

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Topic: perseverance

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Theme:​ Through perseverance, it is possible to achieve great things.

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​rocky

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​steps for finding the theme of a text

1. Identify a topic in the text.

2. ​What do the setting, characters, and plot tell us about this topic?

3. ​Consider how details in the text help the topic develop. What the text tells us about the topic at the beginning might not be what

the following details can help you identify the topic of a text:

​-the title

-​the setting

​-the narrator's tone

-​characters' thoughts, actions, and dialogue

​-the conflict and how it is resolved

-argument and debate

-manipulation through language

-emotions vs logic​

-Act 3, scene 2.​

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​Rhetoric/logic

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Multiple Choice

3.

• A

• B

• C

• D

-doing the right thing

-What is Roman honor?

-can honor be a bad thing?

-Who decides what is right and what is wrong?​

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​morality/honor

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-why do we keep secrets?

-how does reputation with the "public" drive actions?

-are our "private" selves different than our "public" selves?​

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​public vs private

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-does such a thing as destiny exist?

-is life controlled by fate?

-do our choices matter?

-can fate be changed?

-are we responsible for our actions?​

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​fate

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Follow these rules when writing a theme:

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1. Your theme should be a complete sentence.

2. It should express something you learn about a topic in the story.

3. It should NOT be a rule or an imperative (command).

4. It should NOT be an absolute statement (don't use words like always, never, all, or none).

5. It should NOT include specific details from the text, like the names of characters, events from the plot, or locations in the set​ting.