Finding Theme

1
Finding Theme

• A Readers Journey

2
What is theme?

• A view about life and how people live

3
Finding the theme

• Look at the title it may reveal something about
  the theme.
• Notice repeating patterns and symbols.
• Look for allusions made throughout the story.
• Pay attention to the details and particulars of
  the storywhat bigger meaning might they have?

4
What else will help me find the theme?

• Consider the setting
• What elements of setting help the reader
  understand the works view of life or how people
  behave?
• Consider characterization
• How do we see the characters act/behave?
• What do they learn?
• Consider the plot of events
• As the plot progresses what do we learn about how
  these events affect the characters?

5
Anything else I should consider?

• Universality
• Is this true for all people at all times?
• Significance
• Does the this notion you have of theme show us
  how we can deal with a problem or make our lives
  better?

6
Together forever!

• Plot, theme, structure are inseparable!
• They all work together to inform and reflect back
  on one another.

7
Does theme meaning?

• NO!
• Theme does not completely explain the story. It
  Is one element that makes up the whole.

8
Will the theme be easy to spot?

• Uhmm
• Not always.

9
What does that mean?

• Theme is either implicit or explicit
• Explicit themes are directly stated
• Implicit themes are suggested by events in the
  story