Mini-Lesson: Themes in Fiction

What is the definition of a theme?

• A one-word subject like love or friendship

• The name of a character

• A detailed plot of a story

• A central idea in a piece of writing or other work of art

Which of the following is NOT a theme?

• Revenge destroys everything and everyone

• Love

• We must all take responsibility for our own actions

• Through friendship, you can overcome your fears and insecurities

How can you find a theme in a story?

• By memorizing character names

• By focusing on the title only

• By counting the number of pages

• By looking at the protagonist's journey

What is a theme NOT?

• A filmmaker's message to the audience

• An observation about life

• A universal concept

• Communicated in one word

Which example shows a way to explore themes?

• Describing the setting in detail

• Listing character names

• Focusing on the book cover

• Looking at the central conflict of the story

What can themes be?

• Always agreed upon by everyone

• Horribly subjective

• Only positive messages

• Identical in every story

What does the text suggest about themes in your own writing?

• They appear whether you intend for it or not

• They are irrelevant

• They should be avoided

• They must be decided before writing

According to the text, what should you avoid when defining themes?

• Mentioning the setting

• Using character names

• Being too vague or obvious

• Discussing the plot

What example does the text give of a character stating the theme of a movie?

• In 'The Terminator', when the Terminator discusses future

• In 'The Incredibles', when Helen talks about family unity

• In 'Finding Nemo', when Nemo talks about the ocean

• In 'Iron Man', when Tony Stark talks about technology

What does the text imply about the subjectivity of themes?

• Themes cannot be debated

• Themes are universally accepted

• Different people can interpret themes differently

• Themes are always clearly stated by the author