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Exploring Themes in Literature

This article explores the concept of theme in literature, defining it as the life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work. It provides examples and discusses the process of identifying themes in stories.

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Exploring Themes in Literature

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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 what the story teaches readers.

  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. What is the theme? TURN AND TALK  Jenny was so excited. She had a pack of Starburst in her lunch and she had been looking forward to eating them all morning. Lunch finally came and Jenny sat down to eat her Starbursts when her friend Judy sat next to her. “Let me get the pink ones,” asked Judy. Jenny liked the pink ones best, but she thought Judy was funny and Jenny wanted Judy to like her, so Jenny gave Judy all of her pink Starbursts. Before Jenny was done giving Judy the pink ones, Carrie sat on the other side of Jenny. “Let me get the red and the orange ones, Jenny. Remember when I gave you that Snickers?” Jenny didn’t remember that, though she did remember when Carrie ate a whole Snickers in front of her, but Jenny thought Carrie was cool, so she gave her the red and the orange Starbursts. Now that she only had the yellow ones, Jenny wasn’t excited about eating starbursts anymore.

  5. ExampleAnswers You can’t buy friends. You have to take care of yourself. Not everybody is your friend.

  6. IdentifyingThemes Themesare not explicit (clearly stated). Themesare implied. Themes are bigger than the story. Big World of the Theme. Applies to the “Real”World. Small World of the Story

  7. Themes are about the big picture. Not“Yellow Starbursts taste bad” Not “Yudy and Carrie are bad friends.” Think BIGGER. Find “Real” World advice. Big World of the Theme. Applies to the “Real”World. Small World of the Story

  8. CrenshawTheme Think about everything we have read in Crenshaw. Turn and talk with your reading partner about what you think the theme is. Share your thoughts!

  9. Review • Theme is what we can learn from a story. • Themes must be inferred. • Themes are about the BIG world.

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