The message

What Is Theme? What makes a story linger in our hearts and minds long after we’ve read it? Often it is the idea on which the story is built—its theme.

What Is Theme? Theme—the central idea, or insight, about life or human behavior that a story reveals Living a simple life leads to greater personal freedom. The deepest loneliness is sometimes felt when we are among friends.

What Is Theme? In most stories, the theme is not stated directly. Instead, it is revealed to us through the characters’ experiences. [End of Section]

Universal Themes Match these familiar stories to the appropriate universal theme. Stories The Little Red Hen Beauty and the Beast The Three Little Pigs The Ugly Duckling The Frog Prince A It pays to work hard and plan ahead. B Appearances can be deceiving. [End of Section]

Finding the Theme Keep the following guidelines in mind when you want to find and state the theme of a work. The theme is not the same thing as the subject. The subject is simply the topic. It can be stated in a single word, such as loyalty. The theme makes some revelation about the subject and should be expressed in a sentence: “Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.”

Finding the Theme Use the formula SWBST— One step to finding the theme is coming up with a summary for the story.  Use the formula SWBST— Somebody Wanted But So Then

Summary—SWBS 1. Decide who the somebody is (characters/person/people) 2. What did that somebody want? (events of the plot, main idea, details)  3. But what happened? (examine the conflict)  4. So, how did the character handle the conflict? (falling action) 5. Then, finally how did everything work out? (solution/outcome/result)

Summary—SWBS Somebody—Merida Wanted—to not get married But—her mom was going to force her So—she used a spell from a witch that turned her mom into a bear Then—Merida and her mom learned to appreciate each other's viewpoint, which broke the spell. 

Summary—SWBS Merida didn't want to get married, but her mom was going to force her to marry, so Merida used a spell from a witch that turned her mother into a bear. Then, Merida and her mom learned to appreciate the other's viewpoint, which broke the spell. 

Finding the Theme Use the formula SWBS—Somebody wanted, but so... One step to finding the theme is coming up with a quick summary for the story.  Use the formula SWBS—Somebody wanted, but so... 

Finding the Theme Writers often express theme through what their characters learn. How does the main character change over the course of a course? Does a character realize something he or she did not know before? What does the character learn?

Finding the Theme Conflict helps reveal theme. What is the conflict, or struggle between opposing forces, that the main character faces? How is the conflict resolved? Conflict Resolution Theme Two friends find a wallet. One friend wants to return it to the owner; the other wants to keep it. They return the wallet and share a small reward. People are often rewarded for making the right moral decision.

Finding the Theme Sometimes the title gives clues. Does the title have a special meaning? Does it point to the theme? The theme applies to the entire work. Test your statement of the theme. Does it apply to the whole work, not just to parts of it?

Finding theme Quickly summarize the story. Evaluate the title. Look at how the main character changes. Think about how the conflict is resolved. Remember it should be written as a sentence. 

Theme Evaluate the title. Look at how the main character changes. Think about how the conflict is resolved.  What's the overall message? 

Theme You can change your fate. If you love someone, try to understand their viewpoint. 

Finding theme Quickly summarize the story. Evaluate the title. Look at how the main character changes. Think about how the conflict is resolved.

Finding theme SWBST-- Somebody Wanted But So Then

Finding theme SWBST-- Somebody—The beast Wanted—to be free of the spell But—he thought Belle could never love him So—he let her go Then—she returned because she had fallen for him even as a beast, and their love broke the spell. 

Finding theme Evaluate the title Look at how the main character changes Think about how the conflict is resolved

theme True beauty comes from within. You don't regret being kind. Everyone deserves a second chance. 

Finding theme SWBST Evaluate the title. Look at how the main character changes. Think about how the conflict is resolved.

Finding theme Sometimes success comes with a price. Popularity isn't everything. Make sure people love you for you and not what you can do for them.

Practice Your group will receive a movie. Work with your group to complete the information on the movie and debate on a theme together. Be prepared to share your theme and explain why you've chosen that theme using specific evidence.