1. Literary Elements found in Fiction
Characters: Who
Setting: When/Where
Plot: How
Conflict: What
THEME: WHY

2. Theme What is theme? The author’s central message or idea in a story
Expressed in a general statement
Is the book’s view about life and how people behave

3. Examples of theme Hard work results in success
There is beauty in simplicity
Loneliness is a destructive force
Knowledge is power
Ignorance is weakness
Love is transformative
Relationships are dependent on sacrifice

4. Big idea topics Ambition Jealousy Friendship Loneliness Betrayal Love
Courage
Loyalty
Duty
Perseverance
Fear
Prejudice
Freedom
Imagination
Suffering
Happiness
Truth
Redemption
Hope
Equality
Hard work
Honesty
Family
Acceptance
Peace
Survival
Power

5. Theme What it is A message or idea Stated in a sentence
An author’s observation about human nature
Found in all literary elements of a story: characters, setting, plot, and conflict
Arguable
Implied; not directly stated
Applicable to multiple texts
What it is NOT
A moral
A lesson
Advice
A “you” statement
One word
A summary

6. How to figure out theme
What topics or big ideas does the story deal with?
What is the author saying about one of these topics?
What did the characters learn about life?
Put that into a theme statement.

7. Example – Not Norman
What topics or big ideas does the story deal with?
Duty – Prejudice – Happiness - Acceptance
What is the author saying about one of these topics?
The author shows that our prejudice can cause us to dislike something only to find out later that we actually do like it.
What did the character learn about life?
The boy learns that Norman was actually a better pet than he originally thought.
Put that into a theme statement.
Our own prejudices can lead to unhappiness.