1. Tips for Uncovering Theme Use the Strategy Practice the Strategy
Feature Menu
What Is a Theme?
Why Find the Theme?
Tips for Uncovering Theme
Use the Strategy
Practice the Strategy

2. What is a theme?
A theme is a truth about life that you discover as you read a story.
A theme is a message that the writer wants you to get. But you usually have to look for it.

3. What is a theme? A theme is not . . . a topic
A topic is a very brief description of the subject of a story.
a topic
You can state a topic in one or two words:
respect farm life friendship
You need a full sentence to explain a theme: Friendship is a fragile thing.

4. What is a theme? Not a Theme Happiness Childhood Awareness
Theme Statement
Happiness is accepting the joys of ordinary life.
Childhood is a time of innocence.
Awareness of death can make life richer.

5. What is a theme? A theme is also not . . . a plot
A plot is made up of the events of a story—what happens to the characters.
a plot
You can diagram or outline the plot of a story.
You can’t diagram a theme. You need to state a theme in a sentence.

6. Decide whether each item states a plot, a topic, or a theme.
What is a theme?
Decide whether each item states a plot, a topic, or a theme.
1. A family travels to Alabama and faces hardships along the way.
Plot?
Topic?
Theme?
Why?
Describes events in a story.
Why?
Plot?
Topic?
Theme?
2. Prejudice
One word; not a sentence.

7. Decide whether each item states a plot, a topic, or a theme.
What is a theme?
Decide whether each item states a plot, a topic, or a theme.
3. Facing your fears is the only way to overcome them.
Plot?
Topic?
Theme?
Why?
Complete sentence; tells a truth about life.
Why?
4. Happiness can be found in the joys of ordinary life.
Plot?
Topic?
Theme?
Complete sentence; tells a truth about life.
[End of Section]

8. Why find the theme?
Finding a theme helps you understand
stories or poems about the human experience
changes a character goes through
the writer’s views on life

9. Why find the theme?
Finding a theme also helps you make up your own mind about the writer’s message.
Is this really how people are?
Do I agree with this view of life?
[End of Section]

10. Tips for Uncovering Theme
Start by making notes about the plot.
King Midas of Lydia gets the gift of his choice from the god Dionysus
— wishes for “golden touch”
— everything he touches turns to gold
— can’t eat or drink anything
— turns his daughter into gold
— learns lesson

11. Tips for Uncovering Theme
Diagram or retell the plot to make sure you understand what happens in the story.
When King Midas of Lydia finds the satyr Silenus trespassing, Silenus promises to entertain Midas so that Midas does not get him in trouble with the god Dionysus. Later, Midas returns Silenus to Dionysus, who offers Midas any gift he wants. Midas, who is already very rich, is greedy. He wants anything he touches to turn to gold.

12. Tips for Uncovering Theme
Make sure you include the climax
Midas soon has doubts about his wisdom. He can’t eat or drink; he worries about starving. Finally, he accidentally turns his beloved daughter into gold and realizes his foolishness. He asks Dionysus to forgive his greed, washes the curse off, and returns to find his daughter restored to normal.
and the resolution in your notes or retelling.

13. Tips for Uncovering Theme
Next, identify the topic of the story.
Greed
(You can state a topic in one or two words.)

14. Tips for Uncovering Theme
Write a complete sentence to express the story’s truth—its theme.
Some things in life are more important than money.

15. Tips for Uncovering Theme
Remember:
A theme can be stated in different ways.
Some things in life are more important than money.
Greed can blind a person to the important things in life.
Be careful what you wish for—you just might get it.
Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have until it’s taken from us.
A story can have more than one theme.

16. These questions will help you learn how to find the theme.
Use the Strategy
As you read “Hearts and Hands,” stop at each open-book sign and think about what you have just read.
Stop and think.
Answer the question.
These questions will help you learn how to find the theme.
Example
[End of Section]

17. Practice the Strategy
Remember, a theme is not the topic or the plot of a story.
The marshal pretends to be the prisoner because he feels sorry for the prisoner, who has run into a young woman he used to know.
Here is a sentence about “Hearts and Hands.” Does it state a topic or sum up part of the plot? Be ready to explain your answer.

18. Now explain which of the following words and sentences state a topic and which ones sum up the plot.
Deception
Two friends meet on a train, and one pretends to be a U.S. marshal.
Friendship
A young woman traveling on a train runs into a young man she once knew. She tries to renew the friendship, but he is unable to do so because he is headed to prison. The marshal with him pretends to be the prisoner.

19. Practice the Strategy
A writer doesn’t usually make an explicit, or direct, statement of the theme. Theme is usually implicit. You have to hunt for it.
Ask questions about what the characters say and do, and why. Here’s a possible question:
Why is it so easy for the real marshal to fool the young lady?

20. To find the implicit theme in “Hearts and Hands,” ask yourself:
Why does the marshal cover up for his prisoner? Is he trying to spare the feelings of the young woman? Is it because he sees the prisoner as a fellow human being?
What have I learned about helping someone people normally wouldn’t help?
Now, write a theme statement that starts, “This story reveals to me that . . .”
[End of Section]

21. The End