Theme
Theme is a universal truth.
It is usually something everyone goes through, a statement or a lesson about life.
To determine the theme of a novel/movie is to decide what abstract noun exemplifies the message the
author/director is trying to send. Abstract nouns are nouns that your five senses cannot detect. You cannot see
them, hear them, smell them, taste them, or feel them.
Sample Abstract Nouns
(This is not an all-inclusive list)
ADVENTURE ANXIETY BRAVERY BRUTALITY CALM COMPASSION CONFIDENCE COURAGE DEATH DECEIT DEDICATION DESPAIR DETERMINATION DISBELIEF EDUCATION ENTHUSIASM ENVY EVIL EXCITEMENT FAILURE FEAR FORGIVENESS FREEDOM FRIENDSHIP
Example:
GENEROSITY
GOSSIP
GRIEF
HAPPINESS
HATE
HONESTY
HONOR
HOPE
HUMILITY
HUMOR
IMAGINATION
IMPROVEMENT
INSANITY
INTELLIGENCE
JOY
JUSTICE
KINDNESS
KNOWLEDGE
LIFE
LOSS LOVE LOYALTY LUCK LUXURY OPPORTUNITY
PATIENCE
PEACE
PERSEVERANCE
POWER
PRIDE
REDEMPTIOM
RELAXATION
RELIEF
SADNESS
SATISFACTION
SENSITIVITY
SHOCK
SILLINESS
STRENGTH
SUCCESS
SYMPATHY
TOLERANCE
TRUST
UNCERTAINTY
VICTORY
WARMTH
WEAKNESS
WEALTH
WISDOM
WIT
ž When Joseph dived into the violent waves to rescue a drowning puppy, his bravery amazed the crowd of
fishermen standing on the dock.
ž Bravery, one of the nouns in this sentence, is an example of an abstract noun. You can see Joseph, the
water, and the crowd. But you cannot see bravery itself. Bravery has no color, size, shape, sound, odor,
flavor, or texture; it has no quality that you can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. Any noun that escapes
your five senses is an abstract noun.
Determine the Theme of this Movie
The director is trying to show/teach the viewer about (insert three abstract nouns):
(a)__________________________ (b)__________________________ (c)__________________________
2. For each noun, write a sentence (using the noun) about the message that you think the director wants to convey to
viewers. Make this sentence general (applies to all of life, not just this movie).
(a) ________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
(b)________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
(c)________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Choose one sentence from above that you think BEST exemplifies the theme of the movie.
I think the universal theme of this movie is:
Cite evidence from the movie that illustrates this theme. It can be dialogue, characters actions, soundtrack, etc…
1. ________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________