Theme

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Theme

• C.P. English 9
• Unit 4 Lecture Notes

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An Introduction to Theme

• True love will conquer all obstacles and triumph
  in the end.
• Write down some popular songs, books, shows, or
  movies that convey the message above.

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Theme

• Theme
• Central idea, or insight, about life that a story
  reveals.
• This insight is a truth about human behavior that
  the writer has usually discovered from
  experience.
• Example dont marry for love alone
• Example as one grows old, death becomes less
  terrifying
• To communicate their experience, the writer
  simply tells a story that deals with that idea in
  some way.
• Theme is the idea on which a story is built upon.
  

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Communicating Theme

• Theme is usually indirectly stated or implied.
• The characters will act out the theme for the
  readers.
• If the story works as the author intended, we
  (the readers) will feel the characters
  experiences so strongly that the truth that is
  revealed to them is also revealed to us.
• As an effect, the reader has seen what the author
  wanted us to see and/or understand about human
  behavior/life.

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The Effect of Theme

• Although the theme is invisible, it serves as
  the storys most forceful element.
• A similar theme can be found across several
  different pieces of literature.
• Or, a similar theme can be found across genres
  (fiction, nonfiction, poetry)
• A powerful theme can be the reason that a work of
  literature is noticed, famous, liked, disliked,
  or even remembered.

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Universal Themes

• Universal theme
• Theme that deals with basic human concerns and
  recur in every culture and period of history.
• Examples good and evil, life and death, love and
  loss
• These themes are experiences that are common to
  all people everywhere, and are common to tell.
• Universal themes are often the types that help to
  guide us through life by shining light on our
  common experiences.

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How To Find a Storys Theme

• This is not an easy task
• It requires stepping back from the work and
  thinking about it holistically (as a whole).
• Figuring out the theme can and will help you to
  understand a piece of literature more fully.
• Typically, you can express a storys theme in at
  least one full sentence or phrase.

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Items to Consider When Attempting to Find a
Storys Theme

1. Subject
2. Character
3. Conflict
4. Title
5. Test
6. Subjectivity

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Steps to Finding a Storys Theme

• The theme of a work is NOT the same as its
  subject.
• The subject is simply the topic, which can be
  stated in a single word, such as love.
• The theme will make some revelation about the
  subject, though. So, it helps to figure out the
  subject first.
• An example of a theme that would deal with the
  subject love
• Love may be more likely to bloom when we least
  expect it.

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Steps to Finding a Storys Theme

• Think about whether the main character changes in
  the course of the literature (dynamic).
• This can simply mean the main character realizes
  something he or she didnt know before.
• Or, it can be a significant change.
• Often, the author expresses the theme through
  what a character learns.

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Steps to Finding a Storys Theme

• Think about how the conflict is resolved
• Conflict is a central idea in a piece of
  literature.
• Example A character may have to decide between
  individual freedom or the responsibility to their
  family.
• Therefore, how the conflict is resolved may
  provide a clue to the storys theme.
• Example Cartoons The small, physically weak
  character can often triumph over a strong and
  aggressive character by using cleverness.
• Before and after you finish reading a work of
  literature, think about the title.
• Does it have special meaning?
• Does it point to the theme in some way?
• Not all titles will, but you should consider it
  at least.

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Steps to Finding a Storys Theme

• Once you think you have discovered the theme,
  test it!
• Try applying your theme to the whole piece of
  literature.
• Make sure it doesnt just apply to one or a few
  parts of the literature.
• Keep in mind subjectivity its your opinion!
• Others may feel differently than you do about the
  theme you have chosen. Or, you may have a
  different way of revealing the theme than someone
  else.
• There may even be more than one theme.
• As long as you can support your chosen theme with
  evidence from text (intelligently), it should
  work!

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Think Critically About the Theme

• A wise reader will always make a judgment about
  an authors view, rather than just accept it as
  valid.
• For example, a wise reader would ask
• Is this storys view too romantic?
• Is it too cynical?
• Is it too simplistic?
• Is it realistic?
• Is it narrow-minded?
• Is this writer over enthusiastic?
• Is the writer trying to get me to buy an idea
  that is false or over exaggerated?

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Think Critically About the Theme

• Much of popular fiction is formula fiction
• Fiction written to a plan that satisfies the
  general preference for happy or upbeat stories
  rather than something that is true-to-life.
• As wise readers, we must learn to judge the
  credibility of the fiction we read just the same
  as we do with television.