1. Themes in Harriet Jacob's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

2. Theme Theme is the central idea of a work of literature.
Theme is the message or meaning behind the work of literature – the moral to the story.
A theme is the idea the writer expresses on a particular subject. It is an opinion and NOT a subject.
Most any theme can be considered correct as long as you back up your idea with evidence from the story.
Themes will differ from reader to reader.
Literary works can have multiple themes.

3. How to Find A Main Theme A. Look at the main character
What happens to the main character?
Do they undergo a change?
B. Watch for statements of theme
Occasionally the author states the theme, usually toward the end of the book.
C. Look at the title for clues of the main theme
D. Look at the conflict

4. Themes in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Theme 1: Slavery was a negative institution for both blacks and whites.
Theme 2: Slaveholding caused Christian whites to become hypocrites.
Theme 3: The roles of women and femininity were impacted by slavery.
Theme 4: Family was to be valued and fought for.
Theme 5: Both the North and the South were guilty of racism.