Theme and Universal Theme

Theme  A theme is the underlying meaning of a piece of literature. It usually includes an observation about life. It could be the moral of the story, a teaching or an observation of human experience.  By the end of the story, the character usually LEARNS A LESSON based on their experiences.

How Can You Determine a Theme?  You are never actually TOLD what the theme is in a story. You determine the theme from the characters and action in a story. In short, you must determine the theme on your own.

Theme - Example 1  Beauty and the Beast - The theme could be described as “you must look beyond superficial surface beauty and look for what's inside the heart”

Theme - Example 2  Aladdin - The theme could be described as love is not earned through money, but from the heart.

Universal Themes  Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all-- either in our experiences or in our dreams.

Universal Themes A-Z  - abuse of power  - action vs apathy  - beating the odds  - beauty  - coming of age  - corruption  - courage  - effects of the past  - faith  - fall from grace  - family

Universal Themes A-Z (cont’d)  - fate  - fear  - fear of failure  - freedom  - friendship  - greed  - hate  - heritage  - heroes  - honesty  - innocence  - justice  - love  - loyalty

Universal Themes A-Z (cont’d)  - manipulation  - mothering  - nature  - need for change  - obligation  - parent-child relationships  - peace  - peer pressure  - perseverance  - Power of the mind vs. authority

 - prejudice  - price of progress  - pride  - quest for knowledge  - religion  - revenge  - secrecy  - security/safety  - seizing the moment  - survival  - the overlooked  - the road not taken  - war  - winners and losers

Example of Universal Theme  What is the universal theme presented in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

What other stories have the same universal theme of the individual overcoming one’s selfishness and greed?  The main character Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol symbolizes a greedy wealthy man

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