ANALYZING THE WAY A

THEME & CENTRAL

IDEA ARE DEVELOPED
Learning Target: I can analyze the development of a theme or a central
idea over the course of a text, including its relationship to the characters,
setting, and plot.

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 REVIEW OF THEME &
CENTRAL IDEA
Central Idea Theme

Need volunteers to help us compare and contrast central idea & theme.
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 WHAT NEXT?
After you determine the central idea or theme, you have to
analyze how the author developed this big idea over the
course of the text.
Analyze = break into parts
What are the basic parts of a short story?
beginning middle end

characters setting plot

conflict resolution

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 WHAT NEXT?
So, you have to show how the theme or central idea “is
developed” or show how the theme first appears in the
beginning of the story, how it grows more obvious in
the middle, and how it is shown completely in the end.
To do this, you have to look at the literary elements:
character, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution.
Ask yourself, “How does each of these elements
reveal the theme or central idea?” Each element will
probably only reveal a part of the theme or central idea--not
the whole concept.

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 STEP #1: FIND THE THEME OR
CENTRAL IDEA
Example from the short film “Fishing with Sam.”

Central Idea: standing up for oneself

Theme: Standing up for oneself is the best way

to prevent others from taking advantage of you.

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 STEP #2: EXAMINE THE SETTING
DECIDE IF THE SETTING AFFECTS THE EVENTS OF THE STORY

Sometimes setting is VERY important to a story because it

causes conflicts for the characters and gives an
opportunity for the T/CI to be shown. Think of “Fishing with
Sam.” Would the polar bear, the seal, and the other penguins have
encountered the same kinds of difficulties if the story had been set in
a zoo? NO! If those characters had lived in a zoo, they would have
been fed regularly, and the red-scarf penguin wouldn’t have had the
opportunity to take advantage of the other characters by stealing
their food--and they wouldn’t have needed to stand up for
themselves.

Wednesday, October 23, 13

 STEP #2: EXAMINE THE SETTING
DECIDE IF THE SETTING AFFECTS THE EVENTS OF THE STORY

Sometimes setting is NOT very important to the a story

because it does not cause much conflict for the characters.
How much significance does the setting of “Nightmare in Yellow”
have to the plot?

Wednesday, October 23, 13

 STEP #3: EXAMINE THE CHARACTERS’
TRAITS, MOTIVATIONS, ACTIONS

Characters’ personality traits, motivations, & actions help you

see the traits that are found throughout humanity. These aspects
also tend to control the way the character behaves, which controls how the
plot of the story moves along. This often connects directly to Central
Idea: For example, when the red-scarf penguin first took food from the
polar bear and seal, they did not wait around for him to do it again.
Instead, they stood up for themselves by making sure the penguin would
never take advantage of their work again.
The red-scarf penguin’s LAZINESS allowed the polar bear and seal to
capture him because they knew he didn’t want to catch his own fish;
instead, he would steal food from someone else.
However, because he is a GOOD FISHERMAN, the polar bear and seal
decided to force the penguin to catch food for everyone he had stolen from.

Wednesday, October 23, 13

 STEP #3: EXAMINE THE CHARACTERS’
TRAITS, MOTIVATIONS, ACTIONS
What are some of the character traits of the protagonist of “Nightmare in
Yellow?

What actions does the protagonist take in the story?

What motivates the protagonist to do what he does in the story?

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 STEP #4: EXAMINE PLOT
CONFLICT, CLIMAX, RESOLUTION

This is the easiest one. Find the things that happen to characters that
give the characters an opportunity to show you the CI/T. Think of
MAJOR PLOT EVENTS that fit into the various parts of the plot
diagram.
The parts of the plot that often show the theme or central idea are:
conflict, climax, and resolution.
The conflict is often caused or worsened by the character’s actions
or traits. This often reveals a central idea/theme.
The climax is the point where the conflict begins to be solved. This
shows consequences of the character’s actions/traits.
The resolution shows how the characters deal with the
consequences of their own actions.

Wednesday, October 23, 13

 STEP #4: EXAMINE PLOT
CONFLICT, CLIMAX, RESOLUTION

What is the conflict in “Fishing with Sam?”

Which character’s traits cause this conflict to occur?

How do the characters solve their conflict with the red-scarf penguin?

What happens to the red-scarf penguin in the end? Why did this happen?

Wednesday, October 23, 13

 STEP #4: EXAMINE PLOT
CONFLICT, CLIMAX, RESOLUTION

What is(are) the conflict(s) in “Nightmare in Yellow?”

Which of the protagonist’s character traits cause this conflict to occur?

How does the protagonist solve his conflicts?

What happens to the protagonist in the end? Why did this happen?

Wednesday, October 23, 13