What Is Theme?

(tema)

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.
 What Is Theme?

Theme is the big idea, message or lesson, about

life or human behavior that a story reveals

Never give up!

The deepest loneliness is

sometimes felt when we are
among friends.

Genres
 What Is Theme?

In most stories, the theme is not stated directly.

Instead, it is revealed to us through the characters’
actions and experiences.

[End of Section]
 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.
 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
 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]
 Universal Themes
Check your answers!!
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.
 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 topic.

• The topic is simply the subject. It can be stated

in a single word, such as happiness.
• The theme tells about the subject and should
be expressed in a sentence: “Money can’t buy
happiness.”
 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?
 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.
 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
 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
 Practice

Title:

Story 1: Topic:
http://www.magickeys
.com/books/noblegnar
ble/index.html • What is the conflict?
• How the conflict is
resolved?
• How the main
character changes:
What has he / she
learned?
Theme:
• :