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Theme. What is theme?. What is Theme?. Theme is the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature. Theme is the idea about life that the author wants to convey to the reader. THE MORAL OF THE STORY
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Theme What is theme?
What is Theme? • Theme is the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature. • Theme is the idea about life that the author wants to convey to the reader. • THE MORAL OF THE STORY • What the main character learns and/or what YOU learn by the outcome of your book.
Theme vs. Topic • Theme and topic are NOT the same thing. • THEME is a life lesson about a topic. • TOPIC is the subject the author chooses to write about. • For example: What is the topic of Romeo and Juliet?
Theme vs. Topic • Topic = War • Theme= War is Difficult
Theme • Theme may be stated directly or implied. • Usually it is implied. • This means you have to read and figure out what lesson the author wants you to learn. He/She doesn’t tell you.
How to State the Theme • Use a complete sentence. • State theme in the form of a general life lesson. • This means that you aren’t using characters/events from the story. • Try to avoid using commands (“You should do this…”, etc…) • Avoid common phrases (called clichés). • Example: Money is the root of all evil.
Examples of Themes • You do not know a person until you walk in his shoes. • You should not text and drive. • Study hard and make good grades. **Remember that the theme of the story is the moral, or life lesson, that the author wants you to learn.
Questions to help identify Theme • WHAT DOES THE MAIN CHARACTER LEARN? • What do YOU learn by watching (reading about) the main character and the outcome of the book?
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss • What do the Sneetches learn by the end of the movie? • What is the theme of this story/movie? The Sneetches