Theme
Good readers can identify the theme of a fictional story. The 5 literary elements found in all fiction: Characters = Who Conflict = What Setting =Where & When Plot = How Theme = Why!
Themes are usually ABOUT big ideas or topic: For example: Freedom Trust Friendship Good v. evil Survival Growing up Poverty & wealth Homelessness Prejudice Honesty
A theme is… A message from the author. The underlying meaning of the story. That means it is implied. Expressed in a statement. About humans or life. Can be applied to many texts. Example: Hard work pays off.
The theme is NOT… The topic of the story. It is ABOUT the topic of the story. A summary of the story. It is only ONE of the elements of a story. A moral, a lesson, or advice. It is a universal TRUTH about life. A fortune cookie message. It is a little DEEPER than that! One word. It is a complete SENTENCE or statement.
Sample Themes Life is not fair We learn from our mistakes Love conquers all Good overcomes evil Family will always be there for you Parents want more for their children We learn from our mistakes Greed causes problems Be happy with what you have Change is inevitable
Theme & Topic Match up Be careful how you treat other people; they may treat you the same way. Face your fears and you can defeat them. Do not wish for what others possess. Be happy with what you have. Work for what you want in life and you can achieve any goal. Jealousy Dreams Courage Revenge
How to figure out the theme… START: What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? The topic is… The big idea is… What is the author saying about one of those topics? The author says… The characters do or say…. END: Put it into a theme statement. The text tells me…
“Little Red Riding Hood” START: What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? The topic is deception. What is the author saying about one of those topics? The wolf is able to deceive Granny and Little Red Riding Hood because they are both innocent. END: Put it into a theme statement. The text tells me innocence can lead to deception.
“The Three Little Pigs” START: What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? The big idea is making smart choices. What is the author saying about one of those topics? The author shows that planning ahead and building the house of bricks was a smart choice. END: Put it into a theme statement. The text tells me that good planning leads to success.
“The Treasure of Lemon Brown” START: What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? The topic is… What is the author saying about one of those topics? Lemon Brown…. END: Put it into a theme statement. The text tells me… “The Treasure of Lemon Brown”
“The Treasure of Lemon Brown” START: What topics or big ideas does the story deal with? The topic is treasure. What is the author saying about one of those topics? Lemon Brown’s treasures are his harmonica and old newspaper clippings because they show that he used to be somebody. They are also special because they remind him of his relationship with his son. END: Put it into a theme statement. The text tells me that every man has his treasures and they do not have to be worth money to be priceless.
What is the topic or big idea of Unit 3? Think about what connects: Fly Away Home “Homeless” article The Treasure of Lemon Brown
Ready for a song? Follow the lyrics as we listen to: “Mr. Wendal” by Arrested Development What is this song about? Let’s review it line by line. Discuss: What lines depict the outlook of homelessness? What are your thoughts?
Read this interview between Songfacts and the songwriter/singer, Speech. Songfacts: The song "Mr. Wendal," can you tell me if that is based on a real person? Speech: Sure. I wrote the song. The song is not based on a person named Mr. Wendal at all, but it is based on some experiences that I have had in Atlanta, which is where I live, and sung to the homeless people that I had become friends with here, and just their way of looking at it. Some of them were more like hobos where they purposely were wanting to be homeless, they didn't want to play to the way society was going, and they just decided to go off another beaten path. Others were hungry, had a run of bad luck, and just couldn't survive with the competition of the real world. So they were out there. One of the people that I look to the most as the real Mr. Wendal, to me, died the year that that song came out. So he never got to hear the song and the tribute to him. We gave half of the proceeds of that song to the National Coalition For the Homeless in the United States, because of how closely all of us felt to the cause of the homeless, and the fact that everybody, whether they're homeless or not, there's some times in all of our lives when we need some help, we need a boost. http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/speech_of_arrested_development/
Class Work Create a Venn diagram with “Mr. Wendal” and 1 choice: Fly Away Home, “Homeless”, or The Treasure of Lemon Brown. Compare and contrast the literary elements of each. You must fill in 5 similarities and 5 differences for each text.