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Unit 3 BreakthroughsUnit 3 Breakthroughs

Theme NotesTheme Notes

Christina PowersChristina Powers

Osceola High SchoolOsceola High School

20092009

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What Is Theme?What Is Theme?

Theme is the central idea or Theme is the central idea or insight revealed by a work of insight revealed by a work of literature.literature.

– Sometimes a work has several Sometimes a work has several themes.themes.

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What Is Theme?What Is Theme?

– Theme gives meaning to the story Theme gives meaning to the story by providing some idea or insight by providing some idea or insight about human life and human nature.about human life and human nature.

– Themes are often universal. They Themes are often universal. They apply to people everywhere because apply to people everywhere because people all over the world have people all over the world have common desires, needs, and common desires, needs, and experiences.experiences.

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Theme Theme vs.vs. Subject Subject

– The subject is what the story is The subject is what the story is about.about. The subject of “The Cold Equations” is The subject of “The Cold Equations” is

outer space.outer space.

– The theme states what the subject The theme states what the subject means. means. One theme of “The Cold Equations” is One theme of “The Cold Equations” is

that outer space has physical laws that that outer space has physical laws that can not change no matter the situation.can not change no matter the situation.

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Theme Theme vs.vs. Moral MoralThe Tortoise and the HareThe Tortoise and the Hare

– The moral of a story is a rule of conduct The moral of a story is a rule of conduct or a practical lesson about life.or a practical lesson about life.

““Slow and steady wins the race.”Slow and steady wins the race.”

– The theme is usually a much more The theme is usually a much more complex and original revelation about complex and original revelation about life.life.

Reaching your goals requires determination Reaching your goals requires determination and sacrifice, but you have to be careful and sacrifice, but you have to be careful not to neglect your family and friends while not to neglect your family and friends while working toward your goals.working toward your goals.

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Where Is the Theme?Where Is the Theme?

– A story’s theme is usually not stated directly. A story’s theme is usually not stated directly.

– All of the elements of the story—plot events, characters, All of the elements of the story—plot events, characters, setting, and dialogue—make up the theme.setting, and dialogue—make up the theme.

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Theme ExampleTheme Example

Story Elements:Story Elements:–Brenda is athletic and Brenda is athletic and wants her brother to wants her brother to excel in sports.excel in sports.

–She is disappointed She is disappointed when her brother when her brother shows more interest in shows more interest in music than in sports.music than in sports.

–After hearing her After hearing her brother give a great brother give a great solo performance in solo performance in the youth symphony, the youth symphony, she decides to support she decides to support and encourage his and encourage his musical talents.musical talents.

Theme:Theme:–Allowing someone to Allowing someone to pursue his or her own pursue his or her own interests is more interests is more rewarding than trying to rewarding than trying to force someone to enjoy force someone to enjoy a specific activity.a specific activity.

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Stating a Story’s Stating a Story’s ThemeTheme

General guidelines for stating a General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:story’s theme:Step 1:Step 1: Pay attention to the main Pay attention to the main

character’s actions and to the conflict. character’s actions and to the conflict. Ask yourself:Ask yourself:

–How does the main character change during the How does the main character change during the story?story?

–What does he or she learn about life as a result of What does he or she learn about life as a result of the story’s events?the story’s events?

–How is the conflict resolved?How is the conflict resolved?

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Stating a Story’s Stating a Story’s ThemeTheme

Step 2:Step 2: Use at least one complete sentence to state the Use at least one complete sentence to state the theme.theme.

General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:

–Incorrect:Incorrect: “forgiveness” “forgiveness”–Correct:Correct: “The theme is that people need to forgive “The theme is that people need to forgive past mistakes in order to move on and be happy.”past mistakes in order to move on and be happy.”

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Stating a Story’s Stating a Story’s ThemeTheme

Step 3: Express the theme as a generalization Step 3: Express the theme as a generalization about life or human nature. Do not refer to about life or human nature. Do not refer to specific characters or events in the work.specific characters or events in the work.

General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:

–Incorrect:Incorrect: “The tie that Paul received from his “The tie that Paul received from his father was one of his most treasured father was one of his most treasured possessions.”possessions.”

–Correct:Correct: “Simple, everyday objects can have “Simple, everyday objects can have great value to the people who own them.” great value to the people who own them.”

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Stating a Story’s Stating a Story’s ThemeTheme

Step 4:Step 4: Remember that there’s more than one Remember that there’s more than one way to state a story’s theme. way to state a story’s theme.

General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:

–Different people may interpret a story differently.Different people may interpret a story differently.–You may even find several themes in one story. You may even find several themes in one story.

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Decide whether each statement is true or false.

______—A story’s moral and a story’s theme are the same thing.

______—The way the main character changes can help you determine theme.

______—Works of literature have only one theme.

______—Themes can be described using one or two words.

What Have You What Have You Learned?Learned?

TrueTrue

FalseFalse

FalseFalse

FalseFalse