Theme vs. Central Idea What’s the difference?

Theme The central message or lesson in a text. This is a universal statement about life that is conveyed through the text.

Central Idea What the text is mainly about. This is also known as main idea

So what’s the difference? Main ideas are always specific to the text in which they are found. In other words, a main idea statement can only be used for one text. Ex. “Jeremiah’s Song” is about a man named Jeremiah who impacts other people’s lives with his stories.

So what’s the difference? Unlike a central idea statement, a theme statement must be universal. In other words, you should be able to use the same theme statement for multiple texts. Ex. Cherish your loved ones while they are still around

Still confused? Here’s a video… Theme vs. Main Idea