Analyzing Themes

Analyzing Theme

By Samantha Case

​What is theme?

​The theme is the message about life and human nature that the author wants you to understand.

Examples of themes include​:

• Friendship

• Bravery

• Community

• Class

• Redemption

• Revenge

​What is the difference between topics and themes?

• Topics described in one or two words

  • love, taking risks, death, love

• A theme is the author's message about the topic.

  • Always takes a complete sentence to describe theme:

    • Life's biggest rewards comes from taking risks.

    • Trust is the key to friendship.

  • Reoccurring themes are popular themes that appear in many works

    • Love, friendship, heorism

Themes are not given...they must be found​

​Stories cause us to think about life, increasing our understanding of the world, and giving us insight into how people think, feel, and behave.

• Main idea/understanding = theme

• authors don't give away the theme easily

  • Usually, the reader must discover or infer the theme by uncovering clues

  • This is an implicit theme

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of theme?

• A universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to express.

• Events that occur within the story

• Author's reason for writing the story

• Location of the stories

​The difference between plot and theme

• Be careful not to confuse plot with theme

  • Plot is what happens in the story

  • Theme is the idea or understanding that is revealed by the plot

    For Example:

    ​"Frodo save the group from the deadly orcs"

    • Tis is a plot summary, not a theme statement

    • Instead of describing what characters do, describe what their actions mean

    "Even ordinary people have the will and ability to become a hero."

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​A Theme Statement is...

​A complete sentence that expresses the message that author wants the readers to learn.

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Example: Toy Story:

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Friendship can lead to happiness.

A theme statement must be universal, but based on the examples and evidence from literature.​

​Writing a theme statement

​To compose a weell-developed theme stement, consider the aspects of a topic. Ask yourself questions to help you uncover some of your topic's complexities.

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For example: Topic of Parenting

​ According to the text

• What is parenting

• What makes a good parent​

• What happens when parents do not fulfill their responsibilities?

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See answers to these questions to uncover the complexity of the topic. Then use what you have learned to create a theme statement​ for the generation gap. Use the resources provided to help you.

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​Helpful hints for writing statements of theme

• Express the theme as a general commnt n a subjecte

• Express the theme as an insight into life

• Use words that cause "confident uncertainty"

• Draw general insight from a character's behavior

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• People with realistic goals tend to be more successful than those who put little thought into their future

• Gossip can cause serious damage to a persons reputation

• Poverty may transform honest people into criminal

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• Even trusted friends can betray their closest allies

​DO NOT

• Express the theme as a subject or topic

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• Express the theme as a familiar saying

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• Express the theme as a moral​

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• Express an absolute generalization using words like everyone, always, never, and impossible

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• refer to a specific character or title

• The theme is having goals

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• Crime doesn't pay

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• It's wrong to gossip

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• Poverty always causes crimes

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• Frodo learned not to trust anyone around him

Open Ended

What is the theme of this clip? Remember a theme is a sentence.

Open Ended

What is the theme of this clip? Remember a theme is a sentence.

Open Ended

What is the theme of this clip? Remember a theme is a sentence.

Open Ended

What is the theme of this clip? Remember a theme is a sentence long.