1. Theme
Feature Menu
What Is Theme?
Universal Themes
Finding the Theme
Making a Judgment
Practice
2. What Is Theme?
What makes a story linger in our hearts and minds
long after we’ve read it? Often it is the idea on
which the story is built—its theme.
3. What Is Theme?
Theme—the central idea, or insight, about life or
human behavior that a story reveals
Living a simple life leads to
greater personal freedom.
The deepest loneliness is
sometimes felt when we are
among friends.
Genres
4. What Is Theme?
In most stories, the theme is not stated directly.
Instead, it is revealed to us through the characters’
experiences.
[End of Section]
5. Universal Themes
Different writers from different cultures often
express similar themes.
• A theme is a generalization
about life or human nature.
• Certain types of experiences
are common to all people
everywhere.
6. Universal Themes
Universal themes
• come up again and again in literature
• deal with basic human concerns—good and evil,
life and death, love and loss
• shine a light on our common experiences
• can help guide us through our lives
7. Universal Themes
Quick Check
Stories Match these familiar
stories to the appropriate
The Little Red Hen universal theme.
Beauty and the Beast
The Three Little Pigs A It pays to work hard and
plan ahead.
The Ugly Duckling
The Frog Prince B Appearances can be
deceiving.
[End of Section]
8. Universal Themes
Quick Check
Stories Match these familiar
stories to the appropriate
The Little Red Hen A universal theme.
Beauty and the Beast B
The Three Little Pigs A A It pays to work hard and
plan ahead.
The Ugly Duckling B
The Frog Prince B B Appearances can be
deceiving.
9. Finding the Theme
Keep the following guidelines in mind when you
want to find and state the theme of a work.
The theme is not the same thing as the
subject.
• The subject is simply the topic. It can be
stated in a single word, such as loyalty.
• The theme makes some revelation about the
subject and should be expressed in a sentence:
“Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.”
10. Finding the Theme
Writers often express theme through what
their characters learn.
• Does the main character
change?
• Does a character realize
something he or she did not
know before?
11. Finding the Theme
Conflict helps reveal theme.
• What is the conflict, or struggle between
opposing forces, that the main character faces?
• How is the conflict resolved?
Conflict Resolution Theme
Two friends find They return the People are often
a wallet. One wallet and share rewarded for
friend wants to a small reward. making the
return it to the right moral
owner; the other decision.
wants to keep it.
12. Finding the Theme
Sometimes the title gives clues.
• Does the title have a special meaning?
• Does it point to the theme?
The theme applies to the entire work.
• Test your statement of the theme. Does it apply
to the whole work, not just to parts of it?
13. Finding the Theme
There is no single way to state the theme.
• People may express the same
theme in different words.
• There may be different
opinions about what the main
theme is.
• The most meaningful literary
works often have more than
one theme.
14. Finding the Theme
Quick Check
Because of a feud over a piece of land, What is the
Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One conflict and how
night they encounter each other on the is it resolved?
disputed land. Each thinks of killing the
other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins
them both under its weight.
What do the
At first the men threaten each other.
characters learn?
After a while, however, they notice each
other’s suffering, make a pact of
friendship, and look forward to being
rescued and living in peace. Then they are
attacked by wolves.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
15. Finding the Theme
Quick Check
Because of a feud over a piece of land, What is the
Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One conflict and how
night they encounter each other on the is it resolved?
disputed land. Each thinks of killing the Two men are
other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins fighting over a
them both under its weight. piece of land.
At first the men threaten each other. They put the
After a while, however, they notice each feud behind
other’s suffering, make a pact of them when they
friendship, and look forward to being are both facing
rescued and living in peace. Then they are possible death.
attacked by wolves.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
16. Finding the Theme
Quick Check
Because of a feud over a piece of land, What do the
Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One characters learn?
night they encounter each other on the
Survival is more
disputed land. Each thinks of killing the
important than
other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins
land ownership.
them both under its weight.
Letting go of
At first the men threaten each other. hatred feels
After a while, however, they notice each good.
other’s suffering, make a pact of
friendship, and look forward to being
rescued and living in peace. Then they are
attacked by wolves.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
17. Finding the Theme
Quick Check
Because of a feud over a piece of land, What is the
Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One theme? (State it
night they encounter each other on the in a sentence.)
disputed land. Each thinks of killing the
other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins
them both under its weight.
At first the men threaten each other.
After a while, however, they notice each
other’s suffering, make a pact of
friendship, and look forward to being
rescued and living in peace. Then they are
attacked by wolves.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
[End of Section]
18. Finding the Theme
Quick Check
Because of a feud over a piece of land, What is the
Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies. One theme? (State it
night they encounter each other on the in a sentence.)
disputed land. Each thinks of killing the
If you wait until
other. Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins
tragedy strikes
them both under its weight.
to make peace
At first the men threaten each other. with your
After a while, however, they notice each enemies, you
other’s suffering, make a pact of may not be able
friendship, and look forward to being to enjoy the
rescued and living in peace. Then they are rewards of
attacked by wolves. forgiveness.
synopsis of “The Interlopers” by Saki
19. Making a Judgment
Don’t accept a story’s theme as valid just because
the story is in print. Instead, ask yourself:
• Is this story’s view of life too
simplistic? Too idealistic? Too
cynical?
• Is the writer trying to push an
idea that does not reflect real
life?
Formula Fiction
20. Making a Judgment
Quick Check
True love solves all of life’s Classify each
problems. theme as either
valid or not
valid. Explain
your choices.
People who have a lot of money or
power are sometimes greedy for
more.
People who do good deeds will be
happy and will not suffer.
[End of Section]
21. Making a Judgment
Quick Check
True love solves all of life’s Classify each
problems. theme as either
not valid
valid or not
(too idealistic)
valid. Explain
your choices.
People who have a lot of money or
power are sometimes greedy for
more. valid
(true to life)
People who do good deeds will be
happy and will not suffer. not valid
(too idealistic)
22. Practice
Think of a story Title:
you’ve read that had an
impact on you. Then, use Topic:
a map like the one here to
• How the main
help you figure out the character changes:
story’s theme. Compare • How the conflict is
your map with the ones resolved:
your classmates made. Did • What the title
you and any of your suggests:
classmates map stories
with similar themes? Theme:
[End of Section]
24. What Is Theme?
Genres
Themes are also important to
other genres, or forms of
literature, such as novels, plays,
poems, and even nonfiction
works.
25. Making a Judgment
Formula fiction
• is written to a plan
• satisfies a general preference for upbeat
stories over true-to-life ones
Be on the lookout for formula fiction. Learn to
make your own critical judgments about the
fiction you read.
