Name:
Class:
THEME PART 2
Date:
Directions: We have learned about Thematic Idea, now it’s time to learn the rest about theme. Let’s review what
we’ve learned about thematic idea first:
Thematic Idea
-
A word or phrase
 Love, Family, Friendship, Social Class
The overall TOPIC of a story.
Ask yourself: “what is this
story all about?”
-
It goes BEYOND the story
 A thematic idea does NOT have character names or other details that are
specific to the text.
-
About Human Nature or Life and UNIVERSAL
 What is something that humans typically experience in life?
- Relationships, Loss, etc.
Theme:
-
The critical belief about life that the author is trying to convey
The story’s underlying
message, or 'big idea’
about human nature or
life.
-
How to find it: T + A = T
 Topic + Author’s message about life = Theme
 The Author’s message is often demonstrated through the characters
in the text or how a conflict is solved (or not solved)
-
It goes BEYOND the story
 A theme does NOT have character names or other details that are
specific to the text.
 Ex. Theme = True Friendship is hard to find.
- T: Friendship A: It’s difficult to find a real friend.
-
It is NOT a topic
 A topic is a word or phrase like “Friendship” but it is NOT a theme
because it does not show what the author’s message is about it. It is
a sentence not a paragraph
-
It is NOT a summary
 A summary is a short retelling of a text. A summary has a lot of
details. A theme does not.
 A theme is a complete sentence
-
It is NOT a moral
 A moral tells people what to do
 The theme is a message and does NOT instruct people
 Take out words like: “you” and “should”
-
It is NOT a fact
 A theme should be arguable. Not everyone should agree on it.
-
Only applies to FICTION (Literature)
In other words, we’re
adding the “what the
author is saying about
it” part to thematic
idea.
Now, think back to what we’ve seen and read so far and come up with THEMES
- Here’s where its helpful to have KEPT your notes from last week
1. Spongebob Squarepants – “Squidville”
Thematic Idea (Topic about human nature or life):__Racism_____________
+ (Add)
What is the author saying about it through the characters, conflict, and resolution (or lack of resolution):
The squids do not accept anyone other than squids in their community. Their community is all the same,
boring and full of prejudiced squids
- (Subtract) any character names or moral language
= (Equals) THEME:_Racism creates bad communities that are boring, prejudiced, and lack diversity.
2. “Marin”
Thematic Idea (Topic about human nature or life):_________________________________________________
+ (Add)
What is the author saying about it through the characters, conflict, and resolution (or lack of resolution):
__________________________________________________________________________________________
- (Subtract) any character names or moral language
= (Equals) THEME:___________________________________________________________________________
3. “Alicia Who Sees Mice”
Thematic Idea (Topic about human nature or life):_________________________________________________
+ (Add)
What is the author saying about it through the characters, conflict, and resolution (or lack of resolution):
__________________________________________________________________________________________
- (Subtract) any character names or moral language
= (Equals) THEME:___________________________________________________________________________
4. “Those Who Don’t”
Thematic Idea (Topic about human nature or life):_________________________________________________
+ (Add)
What is the author saying about it through the characters, conflict, and resolution (or lack of resolution):
__________________________________________________________________________________________
- (Subtract) any character names or moral language
= (Equals) THEME:___________________________________________________________________________
5. “Geraldo No Last Name”
Thematic Idea (Topic about human nature or life):_________________________________________________
+ (Add)
What is the author saying about it through the characters, conflict, and resolution (or lack of resolution):
__________________________________________________________________________________________
- (Subtract) any character names or moral language
= (Equals) THEME:___________________________________________________________________________