2. Definition
Theme: An insight into life or human behavior that an author is trying to convey.
A literary work may have more than one theme.

3. Universal A theme must be universal.
Universal: applicable to or affecting the entire world
A theme can apply to the entire population because although there are differing cultures, many human behaviors, emotions, and experiences are common to all.

4. The theme is not the same
It is not the Subject!
The theme is not the same
thing as the subject.
The theme makes some revelation about the subject and should be expressed in a complete sentence:
The subject is simply the topic.
It can be stated in a single word.
For example: spiritual faith.
Unfair, dire circumstances can often challenge a person’s spiritual faith.

5. Look Closely At the Following:
How Can I find the Theme?
Look Closely At the Following:
Character: change in personality, relationships, motivation, action, behavior, thoughts, and statements.
Conflict: Internal or external
Resolution of conflict: How was the conflict solved?
Symbolism: How does the author develop the symbolism? What role does the symbolism play in the literary work?
Title of literary work: What is the significance of the title?

6. The Little Red Riding Hook
For Example
The Little Red Riding Hook
The Ugly Duckling
Subject: Trust
Theme: Be careful what you say to strangers for you cannot trust persons you meet in one day.
Support: When the wolf approaches Little Red Riding Hood she naïvely tells him where she is going.
Subject: Beauty
Theme: The beauty of a person should be determined by the quality of their heart not their appearance.
Support: The ugly duckling was called ugly and cast away despite the fact that he was kind.

7. Theme Development
For the following subjects, write what is being revealed about the subject and express it in a complete sentence.
Give 4 examples from Night to support your theme.
Survival
Dignity in the face of cruelty
Relationships
Endurance
Spiritual faith
Emotional Death

8. Subject: Spiritual Faith
Example
Subject: Spiritual Faith
Theme: Dire circumstances can often decrease a person’s spiritual faith.
1st Example: When Elie saw the babies being burned alive his faith in God was challenged.
2nd Example: The hanging of the Pipel made Elie believe that God was no longer among them.
3rd Example: The separation of families, the beating of people, and the selection of the weak and elderly also caused Elie to question God and all that he originally believed.