Theme

Examining

Theme

Theme refers to a story's meaning -

a general statement about life that can

be applied to any person. A moral or lesson to be learned.

What is theme?

Theme

Points to Remember:

▧ Events in a story represent ideas.
▧ Fiction explores important issues.
▧ Stories apply to many readers.
▧ Fiction is often instructional in nature.
▧ Theme is the central idea or insight of a

written work.

Theme is generally not

stated explicitly (or

directly) in the text, but

instead is expressed
through conflict and

the characters’ actions,
words, and thoughts.

Theme

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Theme is explicitly stated in the text.

• True

• False

What Theme is NOT

▧ Stated in a single word.
▧ Applicable only to the story

itself.

▧ The story’s subject.

Multiple Select

Theme is NOT...

• Inferred

• Stated in a single word.

• The subject of the story.

• Expressed through conflict or character's actions, words, or thoughts.

• Applicable to only the story itself.

Theme

A theme of a story may

not necessarily be a
belief that you have.

The story’s controlling
theme or insight about
life may be something
you disagree with, but

it is still a theme.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

You must agree with the theme.

• True

• False

Theme Vs. Subject

A work’s subject refers to the broad topic.
The subject is generally stated in 1-2
words.

Example of a

Story’s Subject:

War

Example of a
Story’s Theme:
War is a curse
for humanity.

Match

Match the following

• Theme

• Subject

• Theme

• Subject

• Theme

Never give up on something important.

Friendship

A true friend will always be there.

Perseverance

Be thankful for what you have.

• Never give up on something important.

• Friendship

• A true friend will always be there.

• Perseverance

• Be thankful for what you have.

So…

How do we determine
the theme of a story?

How to Identify Theme

Ready to identify theme?

First, shine a light on the text!

Identifying Theme

Understand the main character. Analyzing the main

character is an important part of discovering the theme.

Describe the traits of main character. Examine if the reader

is supposed to identify with the main character. Is the

character someone the reader doesn't (or shouldn't) want

to be?

Step One

Fill in the Blank

Step 1 in identifying theme: Understand the

Identifying Theme

Step Two

Conflict in a short story always involves the main
character. The conflict can be between the main

character and another, man vs. society, or man vs. nature,

or within the main character himself. Determine

specifically who or what the main character is struggling

against.

Fill in the Blank

Step 2: Determine who or what the main character is struggling

Identifying Theme

Step Three

Know how the conflict is resolved. The resolution can
provide a big clue as to the theme of a story. Who wins

the conflict is the writer's way of telling the reader

which force was better. If an evil main character, one

you wouldn't admire, wins out over some force of

nature, the theme will have a negative slant.

Drag and Drop

Step 3: Know how the conflict is

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

resolved

progressing

beginning

Identifying Theme

Step Four

What did the main character learn in the story? What

insight did he or she gain?

Now, generalize that lesson in a declarative statement

that applies to everyone.

Dropdown

Step 4: identify what the character

Select answer

Sample Literature Theme

True love can overcome any challenge.

Be careful how you treat others.

Be happy with what you have in life.

Work hard and you will achieve.

Reorder

Match the following

• Understand the main character.

• Identify the conflict.

• Know how the conflict is resolved.

• Identify the main character's lesson learned.

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