How to analyze how a theme develops

Analyze How a Theme Develops

What is a theme?

A theme is the main idea of a text.

In a longer text, there might be many themes.

Major themes might show up multiple times. Minor themes may exist in only smaller parts of a story or text.

How does a theme develop?

Repetition

Key ideas will be repeated. The author (writer) might use different words, but the main idea should be repeated.

How does a theme develop?

Examples

All of the examples will contribute the main idea by supporting it.

When you analyze a theme, you should be able to point out these examples.

How does a theme develop?

Characters, Items, and Plots

When you read a story, characters and might help contribute. The way they respond to situations and the morals or values they show can speak to the theme.

If certain items show up often as key symbols for bigger topics, these can also show the theme.

Multiple Choice

What is a theme?

• The main idea

• The details

• What the characters do in a story

• All of the examples the author uses

Multiple Select

How does a theme develop?

• Examples

• Repetition

• Character, plot, and items

• The thesis statement

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What score did you get on the reading test?

Good job!

Now you can practice analyzing a theme :)