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Theme

Theme. The Search for Meaning. What is a Theme ?. Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work. In other words… Theme is the general, underlying truth of a text. Themes. A theme is not a word , it is a sentence .

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Theme

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  1. Theme The Search for Meaning

  2. What is a Theme? Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work. In other words… Theme is the general, underlying truth of a text.

  3. Themes A theme is not a word, it is a sentence. You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it. Examples - Money can’t buy happiness. - Don’t judge people based on the surface. - It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

  4. Identifying Themes Big World of the Theme. Applies to the “Real” World. Small World of the Text Themesare not explicit (clearly stated). Themesare implied. Themesdevelop over the course of a story, play, and poem. Themes are bigger than the text.

  5. Got it—themes are about the big picture. How do I move from the small world of the story to the big picture to construct and analyze a relevant statement of theme, though?

  6. Step 1: Start by identifying thematic topics a text explores. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt. The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. Thematic Topics: Dominance / Abuse / Love / Pain / Resilience / Etc… Let’s think back to “My Papa’s Waltz”

  7. Step 2: Ask yourself, what universal truth does the text convey about this thematic topic? The complete-sentence answer to that question leads you to theme. • Example: • Thematic topic: Pain • Question: What universal truth does “My Papa’s Waltz” convey about Pain? • Answer (THEME!): Pain can come from the people who are supposed to protect you. • Theme check: • Does this statement of theme make a point about life, written in a complete sentence? • Do I need to make inferences about “My Papa’s Waltz” as a whole to arrive at this theme? • Does this theme focus on the BIG picture?

  8. Step 1 & 2:Now you try. Dominance/ Abuse / Love / Pain / Resilience… • In your groups, choose a different thematic topic for “My Papa’s Waltz” and write down a theme. We will share and workshop our thematic statements in 10 minutes. • Remember the following: • Thematic topic: • Question: What universal truth does “My Papa’s Waltz” convey about this idea? • Answer (THEME!): • Theme check (answer each question for your statement of theme): • Does this statement of theme make a point about life, written in a complete sentence? Why? • Do I need to make inferences about “My Papa’s Waltz”as a whole to arrive at this theme? How? • Does this theme focus on the BIG picture? Why?

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