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2. Let’s Learn Something Today!
Theme

3. Step 1.
Pick a word:
Idea, motif, subject, feeling, event, conflict… in the work.

4. Isolation, love, war, fear, family, pain, loneliness, friendship, nature, bravery, truth, logic, sisterhood, slavery, respect, expression, maturity, childhood, sexuality, religion, ignorance, power, journey, savagery, creation, monstrosity, peril, desperation, mediocrity, unknown, prosperity, wealth, greed, death, birth, justice…
STEP 1. continued

5. Answer: What happens concerning that word in the story?
Step 2.
Answer: What happens concerning that word in the story?

6. Step 2… Harry can’t do ANYTHING without friends
Caesar never gets enough power
The Journey changes Bilbo’s life
Anakin still brings balance to good and evil
Tony learns to think before he creates

7. Step 3 Pull it out of the story!
Make it applicable outside the context of the work.

8. Step 3… You need friends in life.
The thirst for power is never quenched
A journey is not always about a destination
Evil people can do good things
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should

9. Step 4. Check your work against the rest of the story
Does it work through the entirety of the work?
Is it supported by setting, tone, characters, plot, conflict, symbols, etc…

10. Step 5 Does it sound good? Cliché? Cheesy?
Did you get it off a cat poster or bumper sticker?
If needed, revise wording to sound better.

11. Step 5…
You need friends in life. Companionship is needed to overcome obstacles.
The thirst for power is never quenched.
A journey is not always about a destination.
Evil people can do good things Everyone can be redeemed.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should Exploration without morals is dangerous.

12. Check it against definition:
Step 6 (final step)
Check it against definition:
Theme is 1 sentence that reveals a truth about human nature found in the piece of literature.

13. Examples The power of thought overcomes obstacles.
Love is the strongest force of human nature.
Greed leads to exploitation of others for personal gain.
Justice is a matter of perspective.

14. Step 1. Pick a word
Step 2. What happens concerning that word in the story?
Step 3. Pull it out of the story?
Step 4. Check it against the rest of the story.
Step 5. Make it sound good
Step 6. Check it against definition.