Theme: Definition  The main idea, or message, of a literary work. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and may be implied rather than stated explicitly.

Explicit Example  “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Implicit Example  Back to “Guardians”  Topic: Friendship  Theme: When we stand with friends, we are stronger than when we stand alone.

Some more about theme…  Theme is the message conveyed by a text that applies to multiple other texts.  e.g. “Peter Quill is stronger when he stands with his friends,” would NOT be a theme because Peter Quill is not in multiple other texts…  A theme cannot be a single word.  A theme must contain some sort of claim or argument 

Theme Statement  The book, (title) by (author), is about (topic) and reveals (a universal concept about the human condition.)  On page___________...

Example Theme Statement  The book, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, is about Savagery and reveals that man in his natural form is cruel, vicious, and dangerous.  On page 119 is described the mock pig hunt in which the boys participate. At this time things go a bit too far and the true nature of the boys is revealed. While surrounding and hurting Robert, Golding writes, “Ralph too was fighting to get near, to get a handful of that brown, vulnerable flesh. The desire to squeeze and hurt was overmastering.” Ralph’s innermost desire is to cause pain and show power. Here is shown what violence is in the hearts of men.