Theme

Recurring Themes

Identifying the Theme

Characters and Plot

Images

Your Turn

What Is Theme?

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This student has just discovered the theme of the story he’s reading.

“What does it all mean?” We often ask this about stories or novels we read. When we ask this question, we’re thinking about theme.

Theme

The theme of a story is an important truth that the story reveals about life.

Theme

Friendship can’t be bought.

Never give up, even when you’re faced with terrible odds.

Heroes can be found in unlikely places.

Theme gives a story its power.

The theme is not the subject.

Theme

fear of the big city

The theme is not the plot.

A young farm boy is offered the chance of a lifetime, but he’s afraid to leave behind his familiar life.

The theme is the special message that a reader takes away from a story—a complete thought stated in a sentence.

Facing your fears is the only way to overcome them.

Study this story plot. What is the subject of the story? What is one possible theme?

Theme

Quick Check

Jamal, a drummer, and Fred, a guitarist, are best friends. They each enter a talent contest. The prize is a gift card to a local music store. Tensions arise because Jamal and Fred are in competition with each other. Then one day they have an idea. They decide to work on a song and perform it together. Jamal and Fred win the contest and happily share the gift card. [End of Section]

Recurring Themes

Since themes are general ideas about life, similar themes often show up in different stories.

For example, you’ve probably read more than one story that has a message about the importance of perseverance—of never giving up.

Recurring Themes

Ideas that occur in stories from different times and cultures are called recurring themes.

Seeing the beauty inside will reveal the outer beauty.

Recurring Themes

Recurring themes are based on ideas that have always been important to people.

family

sacrifice

friendship

In each pair, identify the item that might be a recurring theme.

Recurring Themes

Quick Check

1. the power of love / Love can be found in small acts.

2. Dying often makes the way for new life. / death

3. courage / Sometimes it take courage to do the right thing.

4. Our traditions are part of who we are. / importance of heritage

[End of Section]

Writers don’t usually state themes directly. They want you to infer themes from

Identifying the Theme

• the discoveries the characters have made by the end of the story

• the way the characters change

Identifying the Theme

Think about the story “The Tortoise and the Hare.”

• How do the characters change?

• What do they learn?

• How do these questions help you discover the theme?

In the beginning of the story, the rabbit is boastful. After he loses the race to the tortoise, the rabbit learns that being fast is not enough; it is also important to be determined.

Identifying the Theme

The tortoise remains slow and steady throughout the story, and he wins the race. The theme might be “A goal can be reached with slow, steady effort and determination.”

What is Reggie discovering in this passage?

Identifying the Theme

Quick Check

That night his father arrived home late as usual. For the first time, Reggie noticed how tired and drawn his face looked, how low his shoulders drooped from fatigue. He forgot, for a moment, about the long absences. He forgot how angry he was that his father had missed his concert. Saying nothing, Reggie fixed a snack, set it down next to his drowsing father, and went quietly upstairs. [End of Section]

How does his discovery hint at the theme?

Characters and Plot

• is usually revealed through the actions or thoughts of the characters

The theme of a work

• develops along with the plot of the story

1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

5. Resolution

4. Falling ActionPlot

Theme

Characters and Plot

For example, one element of plot is conflict—the struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions.

Use what you know about plot and characters to help you identify the theme.

When characters face a conflict, they are often forced to make a decision about what is most important to them.

Characters and Plot

This decision may point to the theme of the story.

What might Tyra’s conflict reveal about the theme?

Characters and Plot

Quick Check

[End of Section]

Her mother always emphasized how important science was. She’d determined years ago that Tyra should one day become a chemist, just like her. Tyra liked science class just fine, but she was happiest when she was painting. In fact, her dearest wish was to go to art school. She wasn’t sure how—or even if—she could ever tell her mother about this dream.

Images

By using descriptive language and details, a writer can create powerful pictures, or images.

The old room was dimly lit by a shaft of light from outside. He could see dust particles floating there. So light and so quiet, they announced the room’s vast emptiness. How long had it been?

The old room was dimly lit by a shaft of light from outside. He could see dust particles floating there. So light and so quiet, they announced the room’s vast emptiness. How long had it been?

In this passage, the images hint that the theme might have to do with a lost past, feelings of emptiness, or loneliness.

Images

Images will often give you hints about theme, too.

The old room was dimly lit by a shaft of light from outside. He could see dust particles floating there. So light and so quiet, they announced the room’s vast emptiness. How long had it been?

Which images of weather would point to a theme about conflict or anger?

Images

driving rain

calm and clear

raging storm

violent

peaceful

gentle breeze

whipping winds

flashing

crack of thunder

warm sun

Images

Quick Check

[End of Section]

Kayla watched her aunt and cousin waving goodbye, getting smaller and smaller as the train pulled away. As the speed increased, she listened to the repetitive sounds of the train’s movement. She felt the rails passing beneath her in a steady, rhythmic thumping. She thought about the awesome power of the locomotive. But she did not think about her destination.

What can you guess about the theme based on the images in this passage?

Your Turn

Use a chart like the one below to help you determine the themes of two of your favorite movies or stories.

Analyze Theme

Work 1 Work 2

Subject Subject

Theme Theme

Your Turn

The chart below lists three examples of subjects and themes. Without thinking about any particular story, come up with three additional sets of possible subjects and themes.

Analyze Theme

Subject Theme

growing up Growing up means taking responsibility.

nature Nature can be beautiful but deadly.

love People sometimes express love through actions, not words.

Your Turn

With a partner, think of some themes you’ve encountered in books, movies, plays, and comics. What are the three most common recurring themes? What’s an example of each?

Analyze Theme

[End of Section]

Theme Example

The End