Literary Terms:Theme!

Literary Terms Review

First let’s review the literary terms we have learned so far…

• Setting (consists of two things)1) Time2) Place

Literary Terms Review• Irony (3 types)

1) Situational: what happens is the opposite of what’s expected

Ex: A vegetarian works in a meat-packing plant.

2) Verbal: what is said is the opposite of what is meant; sarcasm

Ex: “Wow, you’re so funny.”3) Dramatic: the audience knows something the

characters do notEx: Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet, horror

movies where we see the killer, a man we see is going to slip on a banana peel, the “Maury Show” where we know the man is not here for a makeover

Literary Terms Review• Plot (consists of four elements)

1) Rising Action: builds tension 2) Climax: turning point of the story3) Falling Action: shows the effect of the

climax on the story4) Denouement: resolution; loose ends

are tied up

And now introducing…• Theme!

– The life lesson or main message of a text• 5 rules when identifying theme:

1) It’s not a single word (“friendship,” “love,” “greed”), but a whole complex sentence or thought (What is the author saying about friendship, love, or greed?)

2) Avoid clichés (those overused sayings that lack real complexity or meaning)

3) It is rarely directly stated; we often must imply it (figure it out)

4) There can be more than one theme, and usually is.5) Does not include character names or plot points

related to the specific text since it’s supposed to apply to life!

Practice Identifying Theme

• Let’s practice!• Identify the theme within “The Boy

Who Cried Wolf”:• Remember, it CANNOT simply be “lying” or

“truth,” and avoid clichés! • Examples:

– If you constantly lie, no one will believe you when you are being truthful.

– If people consider you a liar, they will never believe you are honest.

Practice Identifying Theme

•Identify possible themes within “Cinderella”:

•Examples: – If you are a kind, patient person,

you will ultimately be rewarded for that.

–Good people eventually are recipients of good things.

Practice Identifying Theme

Now continue your worksheet on your own attempting to

identify themes while obeying the rules!

The End!…or is it?