1. THEME

2. Learning goals
RL I can determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details.
RL I can analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

3. Essential Question:
How do authors use plot, setting, characters, and symbols to develop universal themes?

4. Enduring Understandings:
Literary texts convey insights or messages about life.
There is a direct relationship between the theme and one or more of the following: characters, setting, plot, and symbols.
When a character learns a lesson in the text, that lesson serves as one of the text’s themes.

5. THEME DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTICS
THEME: A universal insight about life or human nature.
THEME CHARACTERISTICS:
It can be a positive or negative message.
It should be expressed in a complete sentence.
It must contain a point of view.
It must be applicable to the text, other texts, and the real world; these are the qualities that make a theme universal.

6. What MAKES A THEME universal?
Universal connections are familiar to readers across the world.
No matter their background, experience, religion, or language, universal connections allow readers to connect with the texts they read.
Universal connections make the reading experience more enjoyable and meaningful when readers can relate to the text on some level.

7. FORMULA FOR WRITING A THEME STATEMENT
SUBJECT + MESSAGE ABOUT IT = THEME

8. What A Theme STATEMENT SHOULD NOT CONTAIN
First or second person pronouns (I, me, my, we, our, ours, you, your, yours)
Plot detail or characters’ names.
Themes cannot be expressed in a single word.
The subjects/topics a text addresses can be expressed in a word or two.
Example Subject: Friendship
Example Theme: Strong friendships can survive even the most difficult circumstances.

9. What is causing the conflicts in the story?
Questions to ask yourself If you need help determining the theme of a text:
What are the major topics of the story and what do I learn about those topics through the plot?
What is causing the conflicts in the story?
Which characters change and what causes them to change?
What happens at the end of the story and what causes that to happen?
How did the characters deal with difficult circumstances presented by the setting?
If there are symbols in the story, what larger ideas do they represent?

10. Common Themes -
Common themes are often based on the following subjects: Friendship Power/Weakness Survival Poverty/Wealth Family Prejudice Love/Hate Laws/Justice Life/Death Honesty Freedom Belonging/Isolation

11. TRY IT!
Choose one of the subjects and write a complete sentence that would express a point of view about the subject. Example: Underestimating the power of nature can ruin one’s chances of survival.

12. TRY IT again! Watch the video: “I Would Run to You.”
Brainstorm the major topics addressed in the video.
Develop a universal theme statement.
Explain where the theme emerges and how it develops. Address whether characters, setting, plot, or a combination develop the theme.