1 / 12

Topic v. Theme

Discovering central ideas in texts involves identifying topics and themes. This process helps extract deeper meanings and messages conveyed by authors. By analyzing characters, settings, plot, dialogue, narration, diction, syntax, and literary devices like imagery, metaphor, simile, and symbolism, readers can uncover themes that provide insight into the author's intended message. Understanding themes enriches the reading experience, allowing readers to engage with texts on a deeper level and appreciate the interconnected elements of literature.

randyortiz
Download Presentation

Topic v. Theme

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Topic v. Theme Determining the Central Idea of a Text

  2. Topic • A topic is a subject within a text • It is typically one word, or a short phrase • Topics are what the text is “about” • For example… • The Avengers is about “heroes” and “friendship” • Romeo and Juliet is about “love” • Jurassic Park is about “science” and “life”

  3. Find some topics in this picture…

  4. Find some topics in this picture… Some possible examples are: -technology -sheep herding -living in the mountains

  5. Theme • A theme is a complete statement about a topic within a text • It is not one word • Also referred to as a thematic statement or central idea • This is what the author is trying to say about the topic he or she is writing about. The author’s message. • To continue the examples… • What does The Avengers show us about heroes? • What does Romeo and Juliet tell us about love? • What does Jurassic Park tell us/show us about science?

  6. Let’s explore the topic of technology in this picture… …what does this photograph show us about technology?

  7. One possible theme about technology… “Modern technology can be found in unlikely places.”

  8. Determine a central idea (theme) for the following topic in these two pictures: respect

  9. Turning to literature… Remember, we make meaning when the reader and the text meet together. Read the following paragraph and notice not only the basic terms of literary analysis but also their relationship to each other: The writer of fiction creates some people [CHARACTERS], puts them in a time and place [SETTING], has things happen to and around them [PLOT], lets them talk to and about each other [DIALOGUE] , and creates a person [NARRATOR] to tell the story from a position [POINT OF VIEW] in language [DICTION; SYNTAX] using devices of figurative language [IMAGERY, METAPHOR, SIMILE, SYMBOLISM, etc.] so that the reading makes meaning [THEME]. The elements of literature work together to make meaning. That is the purpose of fiction: for a reader to make meaning, which we call THEME!

More Related