1. Themes in literature help us understand what it is to be human.
Today you will learn how to determine a theme of a text using its central idea.

2. The 5 Literary Elements found in all fictional Literature:
Characters
Setting
Plot
Conflict
Central Idea
Characters : who
Setting: where/when
Plot: what
Conflict: what
THEME: WHY!

3. We have already begun to discuss THEME…
when we learned about CENTRAL IDEA in our Book groups.

4. Central Idea VS. Theme Central ideas = concrete nouns Readers ask…
What big ideas is the story about?
What universal ideas are in the story that can a reader relate to?
Theme = a short sentence
Readers ask…
So what? What is being suggested
about human nature?
What is the author saying about a
central idea?

5. Possible Central Ideas:
abandonment
death
identity
privacy
acceptance
deceit
ignorance
reputation
ambition
duty
integrity
rivalry
anger
empathy
intolerance
secrecy
beauty
entitlement
isolation
self-improvement
betrayal
fear
jealousy
self-reliance
blame
forgiveness
legacy
suffering
class
freedom
love
survival
community
grace
loyalty
temptation
compassion
greed
maturation
transformation
conformity
grief
popularity
truth
courage
guilt
prejudice
cowardice
happiness
pride

6. Central Idea: Risk-taking
Mike and Sully break the rules of scaring, but it pays off…children’s laughter is more beneficial than screams.

7. Theme: Taking risks is more beneficial than conformity.

8. Non-example Theme: Risk takers know rules were meant to be broken.

9. Central Idea: Friendship
Buzz and Woody are opposites, but working together makes things happen.

10. THEME: Differences create meaningful friendships.

11. Non-example of THEME: Friends may come and friends may go, but they will always be your friends.

12. Turn and Talk: Have you ever read a story that had one of these common themes?
Death is unavoidable.
There is beauty in simplicity.
Loneliness is a destructive force.
Knowledge is power.
Love is transformative.

13. These are NOT themes…. Slow and steady wins the race. Morals ≠ theme
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Cliché sayings ≠ theme
Say you’re sorry.
“Mom” lessons ≠ theme
You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
Hallmark card message ≠ theme
Good things will come to you in due time.
Fortune cookie message ≠ theme

14. Follow three steps to determine a text’s theme:
Central ideas
So what?
Theme statement
Let’s try with “All Summer in Day”…

15. STEP #1: What BIG ideas does the text deal with?
Some central ideas of “All Summer in a Day” are…
cruelty
jealousy
conformity

16. STEP #2: So What? What is the author saying about a central idea(s)?
Ray Bradbury is saying…
being cruel to others is wrong and dangerous because we can’t know the consequences for the victim.
jealousy can cause people to bully those who have something they want.
groups of people may conform to act unethically when most of the individuals wouldn’t if they were acting alone.

17. STEP #3: Condense step 2 into a short sentence (S + P + O)
Therefore, a theme of “All Summer in a Day” is…
Cruelty has irreversible consequences. OR
Jealousy is rooted in fear.
Acting on jealousy leads to cruelty (combines two central ideas)
Conformity provides a false sense of security.

18. Non-examples for “All Summer in a Day”
X There are good people and bad people in life.
X Sometimes you treat others badly when they are different.
X Don’t trust.
X "no prophet is welcome in the prophet's hometown.” (Luke 4:24)
Too simplistic/elementary; states the obvious.
Avoid second person
Avoid commands
Avoid direct quotes from other sources

19. Determine the theme of your Book Group novel.
STEP #1: What BIG ideas does the text deal with?
STEP #2: What is the author saying about the central idea(s)?
STEP #3: Condense step 2 into a short sentence (S + P + O)
Some central ideas of _______________ are…
_______________________ is saying…
Therefore, a theme of _________________ is…

20. Extension: Theme in picture books
Choose a picture book and read it. As you are reading, determine a few central ideas.
Choose the most accurate central idea and follow the three step process for writing a theme statement:
STEP #1: What BIG ideas does the text deal with?
STEP #2: What is the author saying about the central idea?
STEP #3: Condense step 2 into a short sentence (S + P + O).

21. Extension: HOW? WHY? IF-THEN?
While you read, ask probing questions that require critical thinking:
For example-
Why did the character act that way?
How does the author develop the setting so that it directly affects a character’s personality?
If ____ happened , then why would ____ occur?
NOW: How are the answers above working together to construct a particular theme?

22. Homework:
Read “Aboard the Polaris” with the purpose of determining the theme. Complete the three steps on the back of the passage.

23. Part One:
Which theme of the passage is developed mainly through the members of the Arcturus unit?
A. Success is directly related to effort.
B. A team is only as strong as its weakest player.
C. One learns more from losing than from winning.
D. Good sportsmanship means showing grace in defeat.
Part Two:
Which sentence from the passage supports the answer in Part One? Choose one answer.
A. “ ‘This is the last test, Manning,’ replied one of the remaining three cadets, the insigne of the Arcturus unit on the sleeve . . .”
B. “The three members of the Arcturus unit had completed their runs and had returned to the ship in excellent time.”
C. “. . . he was determined to be fair, even to the extent of declaring the Arcturus unit the winner, should the decision be very close.”
D. “ ‘Congratulations, Wright,’ said Tony Richards of the Arcturus crew, offering his hand.”

24. Part One:
Which theme of the passage is developed mainly through the members of the Arcturus unit?
A. Success is directly related to effort.
B. A team is only as strong as its weakest player.
C. One learns more from losing than from winning.
D. Good sportsmanship means showing grace in defeat.
Part Two:
Which sentence from the passage supports the answer in Part One? Choose one answer.
A. “ ‘This is the last test, Manning,’ replied one of the remaining three cadets, the insigne of the Arcturus unit on the sleeve . . .”
B. “The three members of the Arcturus unit had completed their runs and had returned to the ship in excellent time.”
C. “. . . he was determined to be fair, even to the extent of declaring the Arcturus unit the winner, should the decision be very close.”
D. “ ‘Congratulations, Wright,’ said Tony Richards of the Arcturus crew, offering his hand.”

25. Explanation:
You had to determine a theme of the passage that is developed through the members of the Arcturus unit and to select one sentence from the passage that supports that theme.
Part One: Option D is the correct answer since the members of the Arcturus unit “waited until the first flush of victory died away and then crowded around the two boys to congratulate them.” This detail shows that the members of the Arcturus unit demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Part Two: Option D is the correct answer since it supports the theme related to good sportsmanship from Part One. Options A, B, and C do not support the correct theme from Part One.