What is theme and how do you find it?

What is theme? Theme is the author’s argument or opinion about life. Example: Challenges are necessary for personal growth and progress. An individual word is not a theme—themes are complete ideas and expressed as full sentences. “Challenges,” for example, is an abstract noun (noun that represents an idea), motif (recurring element), or thematic idea.

What will a theme not do? A theme—the idea that the author attempts to communicate through the story— should not reference characters and/or the author (However, you may reference an author and/or characters when introducing a theme in your writing). This isn’t a theme: Santiago discovers that he must overcome his fear of death in order to achieve his own personal legend. This statement simply describes the plot of the story. Good examples of that theme: “Fear serves as the only obstacle to living a meaningful and satisfying life.” Or “Santiago discovers that fear is the only obstacle preventing one from living a meaningful and satisfying life.” Theme statements are only about the ideas and should be able to stand on their own, regardless of whether or not someone has read a text.

Here’s a list of abstract nouns Keep this; you will use it throughout the year

How do you find a theme? Identify patterns or moments that stick out within the text Assign abstract nouns to those patterns, important moments, or central characters Ask yourself the following question: “Using the story and its characters, what is the author saying about [abstract noun]? The answer to this question—when written in a complete sentence—is your theme. The more complex and insightful themes usually incorporate multiple abstract nouns and are written in the form of compound and complex sentences.

Example—Undefeated: the abstract noun is “family” These are not themes These are themes Family The author thinks family is important. Family was important because without Coach Courtney, OC would have quit. Family is important to everyone. When you feel like quitting, family members keep you going. Family is good. Family is essential for success because it’s the inspiration that allows us to overcome challenges. True family goes beyond blood and is the result of a special bond. Living for one’s family is ultimately what creates a meaningful life. Family is the bond that holds individuals together during adversity.

Are these themes? (the abstract noun is “challenges”) OC, Money, and Chavis all overcame their challenges through hardwork. All challenges are psychological, even the ones that appear to be physical. Challenges are necessary for personal growth and progress. Challenges. Challenges are now here. The director of Undefeated wants the audience to know that they should never give up, regardless of the challenges they face.