1. Theme Standard: To determine: What Is Theme?
Analyze the setting, plot, theme, characterization, and narration of classic and
contemporary short stories and novels.
Objectives:
To determine: What Is Theme?
To examine and identify Theme.
To explain whether a theme is valid or not.

2. What Is Theme?
What makes a story linger in our hearts and minds long after we’ve read it? Often it is the idea on which the story is built—its theme.

3. What Is Theme?
Theme—the central idea, or insight, about life or human behavior that a story reveals
Living a simple life leads to greater personal freedom.
The deepest loneliness is sometimes felt when we are among friends.
Memorize the definition. IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED but what was learned from what happened

4. Themes are not explicit (clearly stated). Themes are implied.
Identifying Themes
Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).
Themes are implied.
Themes are bigger than the story.
Big World of the Theme.
Applies to the “Real” World.
Small
World
of the
Story

5. What Is Theme?
In most stories, the theme is not stated directly. Instead, it is revealed to us through the characters’ experiences.
We think about what the characters go through and what they might learn from that experience.
Then, put it into a sent as if we are going to tell others.
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6. Universal Themes
Different writers from different cultures often express similar themes.
A theme is a generalization about life or human nature.
Certain types of experiences are common to all people everywhere.

7. Examples: Simple things are beautiful. Circle of life
Examples: Simple things are beautiful. Circle of life. Empowerment Loneliness Desire to escape. Death
Not on guided notes: Things don’t have to be fancy to be pretty.
What is the circle of life: good and bad, happiness, problems, death all happen to all of us.
Escape- When do we want to escape things? Scared, too much pressure, in trouble, Can you think of a story that might show you those kinds of things? Action movies, Uncle Marcos wanted to escape “normal- every day” life for adventure, school pressure- especially when you procrastinate about getting work done.

8. Universal Themes Universal themes
come up again and again in literature
deal with basic human concerns—good and evil, life and death, love and loss
shine a light on our common experiences
can help guide us through our lives
How do you think they can help guide us through our lives?
show = we aren’t alone, others experience the same, how did other people handle the same situation

9. Universal Themes A B Quick Check
Match these familiar stories to the appropriate universal theme.
Stories
The Little Red Hen
Beauty and the Beast
The Three Little Pigs
The Ugly Duckling
The Frog Prince A
It pays to work hard and plan ahead. B
Appearances can be deceiving.
Pick A or B for each one of these – write them down on corner of paper
Notice how the theme isn’t just one word. It is a phrase or a sentence.
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10. Finding the Theme
Keep the following guidelines in mind when you want to find and state the theme of a work.
The theme is not the same thing as the subject.
The subject is simply the topic. It can be stated in a single word, such as loyalty.
The theme makes some revelation about the subject and should be expressed in a sentence: “Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.”
Write on paper= Revelation= Ah Ha moment= a moral of the story

11. Finding the Theme
Writers often express theme through what their characters learn.
Does the main character change?
Does a character realize something he or she did not know before?
If a character changes what are they? Static or dynamic?

12. Finding the Theme Conflict helps reveal theme.
What is the conflict, or struggle between opposing forces, that the main character faces?
How is the conflict resolved?
Conflict
Resolution
Theme
Two friends find a wallet. One friend wants to return it to the owner; the other wants to keep it.
They return the wallet and share a small reward.
People are often rewarded for making the right moral decision.
Confict = internal or external= talk about those in another lesson.

13. Finding the Theme Sometimes the title gives clues.
Does the title have a special meaning?
Does it point to the theme?
The theme applies to the entire work.
Test your statement of the theme. Does it apply to the whole work, not just to parts of it?
The whole story will help to show the theme.

14. Finding the Theme There is no single way to state the theme.
People may express the same theme in different words.
There may be different opinions about what the main theme is.
The most meaningful literary works often have more than one theme.
Love conquers all.
Love helps you to get through anything in your life.
Can be more than one thing= I learn something different from the characters than you do.

15. Finding the Theme Quick Check
What is the conflict and how is it resolved?
Because of a feud over a piece of land, Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One night they encounter each other on the disputed land. Each thinks of killing the other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its weight.
At first the men threaten each other. After a while, however, they notice each other’s suffering, make a pact of friendship, and look forward to being rescued and living in peace. Then they are attacked by wolves.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
What do the characters learn?

16. Finding the Theme Quick Check
What is the theme? (State it in a sentence.)
Because of a feud over a piece of land, Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One night they encounter each other on the disputed land. Each thinks of killing the other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its weight.
At first the men threaten each other. After a while, however, they notice each other’s suffering, make a pact of friendship, and look forward to being rescued and living in peace. Then they are attacked by wolves.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
Are they enjoying their “not fighting over the land” time together? Why?
What can we learn from their situation?
How should we treat each other and why?
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17. Making a Judgment
Don’t accept a story’s theme as valid just because the story is in print. Instead, ask yourself:
Is this story’s view of life too simplistic? Too idealistic? Too cynical?
Is the writer trying to push an idea that does not reflect real life?
It might really be the theme of a story but it doesn’t make it true. Theme is how a writer tries to put his idea into your head.
Songs have themes. Do they always teach us good things?
Formula Fiction

18. Making a Judgment Quick Check
Classify each theme as either valid or not valid. Explain your choices.
True love solves all of life’s problems.
People who have a lot of money or power are sometimes greedy for more.
If you are poor and hungry and experiencing love, will that love fix your hunger? ALL?
Sometimes true?
If you do something good for someone, will you experience suffering in your life at some point? Words “will not” are too strict. What words might work here to help make this true?
People who do good deeds will be happy and will not suffer.
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19. Practice
Think of a story you’ve read that had an impact on you. Then, use a map like the one here to help you figure out the story’s theme. Compare your map with the ones your classmates made. Did you and any of your classmates map stories with similar themes?
Title:
Topic:
How the main character changes:
How the conflict is resolved:
What the title suggests:
Walter Mitty?
Uncle Marcos?
Theme:
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20. TOMORROW: Bring your literature book, something to write with paper!!