Theme

THEMES are “…the big ideas about life – relationships, family, friendship, world issues – the author has expressed.  It is the author’s message – what the author wants readers to learn from reading his story… 

The theme teaches … (the reader) about life, people, families, courage, prejudice, and so on.”  (Laura Robb. 2006)

Common Theme categories:

Person vs Society                            Person vs Nature                           

Person vs Person                             Person vs Self

Themes are often based around common concepts such as…

The theme may be told to you by the author or you may have to infer what it is.

In inferring the theme the reader needs to pay attention to the character’s traits and actions and how they respond to the problem/conflict in the story.

Questions to ask yourself in inferring the theme:

• “What can I learn about life from the way this problem/conflict was solved?”
• “What is the author trying to teach/tell the reader?”

There may be more than one theme in a story, but one main theme or message stands out stronger than the others.

“Beyond the Text”

Themes

• connect the particular text with the human experience
• help us modify our own thinking about people and life
  • through vicarious experiences

o       by synthesizing new information

• are the larger meanings that lie below the surface
• are inferences about the ‘big picture’ ideas behind the surface story

Questions that prompt synthesis and inferences about theme (Beyond the Text)

·        What is the author’s message?

·        What is the story really about?

·        What message does this story teach about life?

·        How has your understanding of the topic changed?

·        What do you know about this topic after reading this material?

·        What evidence supports your thinking about the big ideas?