Theme and Motif

Understanding and Recognizing Themes

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​Themes in

Speak​

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a topic in Speak?

• Coming of Age

• Technology in Society

  (advantatges/dangers)

• Isolation

• Communication vs. Silence

​The Definition

​What is a theme?

An underlying message or observation about life or humanity that the author implies through a story that gives meaning to the story

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

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​A whole sentence that has both the Subject + Author's insight or comment on part of life or humanity. "The family you choose matters most." Usually implied, not directly stated.

​​Idea about life

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​The series of events that happen specifically in the story. Not the theme because it doesn't have a comment and doesn't apply to the larger world.

​​Events

​No matter what Shmoop or Sparknotes says, the subject is only part of the theme. It's the one-word answer to "What is this book about?" Family? Loyalty? War?

​​Topic

​

​Subject

​Plot

​Theme

• Coming of Age

• Communication vs. Silence​

• Hazards of Isolation

• Beauty of Nature

• Technology in Society

• Proper Use of Power​

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​Common Topics

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​Three Big Ideas About Theme

• ​Themes are universal, which means all people can relate.

• ​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 the ones in the story (applies to the real world)

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​A theme has TWO parts

​1. A WORD or IDEA--a theme topic

2.​ The author's implied comment or point about the topic.​

Examples

Topic: Friendship or fear

Comment: ​If it's real, it lasts forever -OR- It keeps people from reaching goals

Theme: True friendship lasts forever. Fear keeps people from reaching goals​

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RDiscovering a Story's Theme

​Ask how the protagonist changed & what he learned.

Ex. Richie + accepting if they have his 6​.--> If someone has your back, nothing else matters.

• ​Remember it has to be a whole sentence, not just a couple words.

  • Hard work will always be rewarded.

• Theme is not the same as a moral, which is rule of conduct.

  • ​Don't count your chickens before they hatch. (Morals tell what to do.)

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​Things to Consider

• ​A story can have more than one theme

• Lots of stories can share the same themes

• Readers don't have to agree with the theme

• You have to use reasons & evidence to support your claim of a theme​

• A theme will not include the character's name

• A theme is a whole sentence, not one word​

Subject | Subject

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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

An essay about a theme should be supported with

• your own ideas

• 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 the plot, characters, & other story elements

• Only complicated, adult stories have themes

• It's rarely stated explicitly

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of a 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 a 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

A woman risks her life to spy for the Union during the Civil War. The sentence is mostly an example of a

• plot

• character

• topic

• 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 & 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

The story's theme and plot are interchangeable

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

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

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

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

• true

• false