Finding Theme

(the me)SSAGE
What is theme?
• It is the universal message of a body of literature.
• Themes are never stated explicitly in the text.
• A thematic concept is a topic on which the literature focuses. Examples
are “love,” “greed,” “honor.”
• A thematic statement is what the work specifically says about the topic.
Examples are “love conquers all” or “greed leads to war.”
How to Find Theme in Two Steps

Step 1

Pay attention to
repeated words,
symbols or phrases.
How to Find Theme in Two Steps

Step 2
1. Identify the main character.

2. Identify the main character’s major

problem (conflict).

3. Determine what the main character

learned from the resolution of the
problem.
Let’s Practice

While watching Boundin’ follow

the two steps to find the theme:

1. Look for repetition.

2. What did the main character

learn from how his main
problem (conflict) is resolved?
Step 1: Repetition
The title Boundin’ is a word
the is repeated over and over
again in this short film.
“Bound and rebound” is a line that
is sung over and over.
Step 2: Resolution
The main character is heartbroken
when he is shaved and left naked.
He struggles to find joy in his life.

When he is taught that he can

“bound,” his life changes for the
better.
What’s the theme?

To practice rebounding from

life’s challenges is to get better
at facing them.

There are, of course, other ways

to say the theme. How did you
say it?
 Let’s Practice 

Some More

While watching Partly Cloudy follow

the two steps to find the theme:

1. Look for repetition.

2. What did the main character learn

from how his main problem
(conflict) is resolved?
Practice 

On Your Own
Students can record ideas & practice
on the form provided
(as seen in the example on the next slide)
Name:___________________________________________________________________________________

Title What is repeated? What does the main Theme?

Keep in mind that what is repeated could
be:
character learn from the
• A word or phrase resolution?
• An image
• A sound
• A symbol
Title What is repeated? What does the main Theme?
Keep in mind that what is repeated
could be:
character learn from
• A word or phrase the resolu<on?
• An image
• A sound
• A symbol