1. theme
The theme is a writer’s message or main idea. It’s what the writer wants you to remember most.
COMMON TOPICS FOR THEMES:
courage loyalty friendship
hope change determination
prejudice survival self-improvement

2. Plan for understanding theme
Step 1: Find the “big ideas” or general topics in the work
Find clues in: title, first paragraph, illustrations, background information, and list of general topics
Step 2: Note what the characters do and say that support the ideas you chose
Clues appear in: repeated words or ideas, symbols, important plot events or dialogue, and changes in characters
Step3: Come up with a statement of the author’s point or message about the topic