Theme:Theme:

In literature, a theme is a In literature, a theme is a statement or observation about statement or observation about life, human nature, or the world life, human nature, or the world in which we live. It is the in which we live. It is the author’s underlying message.author’s underlying message.

A theme is A theme is notnot the the conflict of a story.conflict of a story.

Some people write, “This Some people write, “This theme is man vs. society.” theme is man vs. society.”

That is a That is a conflictconflict, not a , not a themetheme..

A theme is not a statement A theme is not a statement about specific characters or about specific characters or

situations.situations. A theme is a general observation A theme is a general observation

or statement. Most often it has or statement. Most often it has

UNIVERSALITYUNIVERSALITY. .

That means that the That means that the theme theme applies to most human beings applies to most human beings even if they lived in a different even if they lived in a different time period or place. time period or place.

Theme is not a moralTheme is not a moral

A A moral tells us how to behave or moral tells us how to behave or what to dowhat to do; it is meant to be ; it is meant to be instructive. A instructive. A theme observestheme observes, , weighs, and considers the actions of a weighs, and considers the actions of a charactercharacter; theme avoids judging what ; theme avoids judging what a character should or should not do. a character should or should not do. Therefore, words like “ought” Therefore, words like “ought” and “should” are not appropriate and “should” are not appropriate in a thematic statementin a thematic statement

The theme is often The theme is often expressed as a sentence or expressed as a sentence or

statement.statement.

This is the This is the

thematic thematic statementstatement..

How to Write a How to Write a Theme StatementTheme Statement

identifying abstract identifying abstract concept &concept &

commenting about the commenting about the human conditionhuman condition

Step 1: TOPICStep 1: TOPIC

Choose an Choose an abstractabstract concept like concept like unrequited unrequited love, freedom, abuse, love, freedom, abuse, jealousy, self-pity, or jealousy, self-pity, or fear of the dark that the fear of the dark that the work explores.work explores.

Step 2: STATEMENT part 1Step 2: STATEMENT part 1

The _________ __________ by ___________The _________ __________ by ___________

(genre)(genre) (title)(title) (author) (author)

Is about _______________________________.Is about _______________________________.

(topic/abstract concept)(topic/abstract concept)

Step 3Step 3Now, you need to Now, you need to state what state what the literary work asserts the literary work asserts about this abstract topic. about this abstract topic. If a poem is about If a poem is about jealousy, jealousy, ask yourself: ask yourself: what opinion what opinion does it express about the does it express about the effect on humanity?effect on humanity?

Step 4: STATEMENT part 2Step 4: STATEMENT part 2

The ________ _________ by___________The ________ _________ by___________

(genre)(genre) (title)(title) (author)(author)

is about ____________________________is about ____________________________

(topic/abstract concept)(topic/abstract concept)

and reveals _________________________.and reveals _________________________. (assertion about human (assertion about human

condition) condition)

Step 4: Put It All Step 4: Put It All Together!Together!

The The novelnovel___”The House on Mango Street”_”The House on Mango Street”__ __

(genre)(genre) (title)(title)

by___by___Sandra CisnerosSandra Cisneros________________

(author)(author)

is about __is about ____couragecourage____________and____________and

(topic/abstract concept)(topic/abstract concept)

reveals reveals how how it can be seen in unlikely peopleit can be seen in unlikely people.. (assertion about human condition) (assertion about human condition)

The following slides are The following slides are examples of examples of

Universal Themes in Universal Themes in LiteratureLiterature

1. “Coming of Age”1. “Coming of Age”

Growing up; loss of Growing up; loss of innocence; the difficult, innocence; the difficult, confusing or painful confusing or painful process of becoming an process of becoming an adult.adult.

2. 2. Appearance vs. RealityAppearance vs. Reality

What appears to be real is What appears to be real is an illusion. The desire to an illusion. The desire to define or understand define or understand reality.reality.

3. Good vs. Evil3. Good vs. Evil

The battle between the The battle between the forces of good and evil. forces of good and evil.

Often, good triumphs over Often, good triumphs over evil.evil.

4. Alienation4. Alienation

The human condition which The human condition which leaves one feeling alone, leaves one feeling alone, isolated, or disconnected isolated, or disconnected from others.from others.

5. The weaknesses of 5. The weaknesses of human nature human nature

Falling to temptations such Falling to temptations such as vanity, pride, greed, or as vanity, pride, greed, or corruption.corruption.

6. The evil or dark side 6. The evil or dark side of human nature of human nature

People treating other People treating other

humans humans unjustly unjustly

7. Personal or collective 7. Personal or collective self-destructionself-destruction

A people’s ability to destroy A people’s ability to destroy themselves physically or themselves physically or mentally.mentally.

Humankind’s ability to self-Humankind’s ability to self-destruct. destruct.

8. The indomitable spirit8. The indomitable spirit

Humankind’s ability to Humankind’s ability to rebuild.rebuild.

(“indomitable” means (“indomitable” means unconquerable/unyielding)unconquerable/unyielding)

9. Power corrupts9. Power corrupts

Losing one’s humanity in Losing one’s humanity in the vain pursuit of power, the vain pursuit of power, riches or success.riches or success.

10. 10. Carpe diemCarpe diem

The shortness or fragile The shortness or fragile nature of life and the desire nature of life and the desire to “seize the day.”to “seize the day.”

Carpe Diem means taking Carpe Diem means taking advantage of the opportunityadvantage of the opportunity

11. “Where no man has 11. “Where no man has gone before” gone before”

The human desire to create, The human desire to create, explore, find meaning, explore, find meaning, gain knowledge, or gain knowledge, or advance as a civilization.advance as a civilization.

12. Love conquers all. 12. Love conquers all.

The unconquerable power of The unconquerable power of human love. The eternal human love. The eternal quality of human love.quality of human love.

13. Meaning of Life13. Meaning of Life

The need to find the The need to find the purpose of human purpose of human existence.existence.

““What does it all mean?”What does it all mean?”

14. 14. HubrisHubris

Excessive pride or power, Excessive pride or power, usually with a tragic “fall” usually with a tragic “fall” as a result.as a result.

15. “Rags to Riches”15. “Rags to Riches”

From a humble beginning, From a humble beginning, hard work, self-sacrifice, hard work, self-sacrifice, and dedication lead to and dedication lead to success.success.

16. The cycle of life16. The cycle of life

Patterns of change: birth, Patterns of change: birth, life, death, rebirth and so life, death, rebirth and so on.on.

17. Wisdom through 17. Wisdom through sufferingsuffering

Learning important lessons Learning important lessons

the “hard way.”the “hard way.”

Now You Try!Now You Try!

1.1. Write Write 33 original thematic original thematic statements on a chosen statements on a chosen topic. Be prepared to topic. Be prepared to share.share.