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Theme Statements

Theme Statements. Developing theme through topics. Topic vs. Theme. Theme statements come from topic words (main ideas) , such as Rottenness and Decay Appearance versus Reality Madness Trust, loyalty and friendship Revenge and Filial Obligation. Topic/Main Idea.

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Theme Statements

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  1. Theme Statements Developing theme through topics

  2. Topic vs. Theme • Theme statements come from topic words (main ideas), such as • Rottenness and Decay • Appearance versus Reality • Madness • Trust, loyalty and friendship • Revenge and Filial Obligation

  3. Topic/Main Idea • Topics may be the same for different stories, but the authors’ messages about the topic word may be different • For example, in Romeo and Juliet an example of a ‘topic’ that the story addresses is ‘love.’ • What happens to the characters at the end? • Based on the events and the ending what lesson is the audience to learn about love?

  4. Theme Statements • The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave. You extract theme from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. • The THEME of a story is longer than one word as it expresses an opinion or a particular perspective on a topic. Therefore, theme is conveyed through theme statements expressed in sentence format. • Theme is a comment or opinion about the ‘topic’ in a story • Theme is usually communicated through the main character’s actions and must include the main character • When considering theme, think about what the writer wants the reader to understand – the lesson that the reader is to learn from the events and outcomes in the text. *For example, in Romeo and Juliet a potential theme statement could be: “Love can prosper despite the hate rooted in family feuds.” Notice that the theme statement addresses the topic of ‘love.’

  5. Simply… • Think of topics as the “what.” • What are the big ideas in the story? • Themes are the “so what.” • So what about the topic word? • So what is the author trying to say?

  6. Composing a Theme Statement • Ask the following questions: • What is the topic about? • Why is the topic an important issue? • Who does the topic involve? • How does the topic affect the protagonist? • What problems or issues arise because of this topic? • How does the topic affect the way society functions in the text?

  7. Example • For example, if your topic is the generation gap, you might ask yourself the following questions to gain an understanding of the topic and uncover some of its complexities. • · What is the generation gap? • · Why is the generation gap an important issue in this text? • · Who does the generation gap involve? • · How does it affect the protagonist? • · What problems or issues arise because of this topic? • · How does it affect the way society functions in the text? • Your answers to such questions will quickly uncover the complexity of this topic.

  8. Example

  9. Sample Theme Statement

  10. Theme Statements + Support • In groups review the play and write a theme statement (sentence) based on one of the assigned topics (POINT) • Remember: A theme statement is the lesson that the audience/reader is supposed to learn from events & outcomes in the text • PROOF: Locate at least 3 quotations from the play which support your theme statement. Citation = (Act.Scene.Line) • ANALYSIS: Explain how and why the chosen quotes support your theme statement . • Rottenness, Death and Decay • Appearance versus Reality • Madness • Trust, loyalty vs. betrayal • Revenge and Filial Obligation • Man (human) versus himself

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