1. THEME THE ESSENCE OF WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT

2. THEME A lesson or message about life. A LESSON OR MESSAGE ABOUT LIFE!

3. UNIVERSAL THEMES MESSAGES OR LESSONS ABOUT LIFE THAT CAN BE UNDERSTOOD ACROSS CULTURES AND LANGUAGES. You get it, your parents can get it, an old man in China can get it, a woman in Africa can understand it….UNIVERSAL! Examples:

5. SPECIFIC THEMES Anyone can identify it, but only a specific group of people truly understand it. A message or lesson about life that only a small group understands fully, but everyone else gets the essence of. Examples: Blacks fighting for their own freedom in the Civil War; Jews escaping NAZI persecution

7. IDENTIFYING THEME Focus on the big picture. What does this story say or teach me about life? What is something I can understand about this story even though I’ve never been in the situation? How can I be sure this is the theme?

8. LET US PRACTICE! Movies: Spiderman (with Tobey Maguire, I know Andrew Garfield is cuter, but you’ll survive) Books: Harry Potter series or Twilight (I know I need to read some new YA books, but alas I haven’t yet) Songs: I knew you were trouble (Oh Taylor, where do you find your inspiration because all of your songs show so much variety!)

9. THE PRINCESS AND ALL THE KINGDOM Think, pair, share! Revisit the story. What do you think the theme is? Remember theme is a message or lesson about life. This one should be a universal theme. Find two quotes that you think support your theme. When I signal share this with one person near you!