Literary Analysis Theme

Definitions to know: 1. Theme 2. Subject

Review - Literary analysis Literary analysis simply means analyzing literature. Analysis means breaking anything complex into its smaller, simpler parts. The smaller, simpler parts of a complete literary analysis are plot, setting, theme and character

Theme The theme of a story is the meaning, moral or lesson of the story. It is the lesson learned by a character or characters in a story, OR… …it is the lesson learned by the reader of the story A story can have more than one theme.

Subject A subject is what the story is about.

The difference between theme and subject Remember… a subject is what a story is about. a theme is the meaning or lesson behind a story.

Example: The subject of The Giver is a boy’s growing up in a futuristic world that has tried to eliminate conflict and unhappiness through a tightly controlled society. A theme in The Giver is the importance and value of having freedom to choose, no matter the consequence.

Another example… The subject of Boy of the Painted Cave is an outcast boy from Paleolithic times who wants to be a cave painter for his clan and must overcome superstition and taboo in order to achieve his dream. Some themes of Boy are overcoming adversity, loyalty, and friendship.

How do I figure out a theme? Often clues to the theme can be found in the actions, speech and thoughts of the characters, and how the characters change. Clues can also be found in the conflict and resolution of a story.