1 / 9

Understanding Theme

Understanding Theme. A Guide for Determining Themes in Literature. What is theme?. Theme is an idea in a story Usually hidden within a story Is not usually stated outright Theme can be hidden within the characters, plot and/or setting Often reflects a universal truth. Topic v. Theme.

wilma-herrera
Download Presentation

Understanding 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. Understanding Theme A Guide for Determining Themes in Literature

  2. What is theme? • Theme is an idea in a story • Usually hidden within a story • Is not usually stated outright • Theme can be hidden within the characters, plot and/or setting • Often reflects a universal truth

  3. Topic v. Theme • A topic is typically one to two words • Ex # 1: bad luck • Ex # 2: death • A theme addresses an opinion about the topic • Ex # 1: bad luck is something you are born with • Ex # 2: death is a mystery humans cannot comprehend

  4. How do I determine theme? • Ask yourself these questions? • What ideas go with my topic? • What does it say in the story about my topic? • From the example… • What does the story say about bad luck? • Does is say people are born with it? • Does it say that bad luck can’t be changed?

  5. Where to start… • Find a topic by looking at: • The characters • Plot • Setting • Symbols

  6. Analyze • Title – does it suggest anything? • Plot – main character • What happens to him/her? • What struggles does he/she face? • What questions does he/she have? • Does he/she change throughout the story? If yes, then why? • Did his/her questions get answered?

  7. Analyze, Take 2 • Did he/she learn/realize anything? • What advice/answers were provided by other characters? Personal Observations • What impression do you get from the book? • Does it seem to suggest a moral or provide a life lesson?

  8. Theme • Remember: Stories (texts) can have multiple themes!!! • What themes did you stumble upon for Hamlet with your setting analysis foldable?

  9. 12 Most Common Themes • Man v. Nature • Man v. Society • Crime does not pay • Overcoming Adversity • Friendship is dependant on sacrifice • The importance of family • Yin and Yang (Good v. Evil) • Love is the worthiest of pursuits • Death his part of the cycle of life • Sacrifices bring reward • Human beings all have the same needs • Man struggles to understand divinity

More Related