1. Themes in Beowulf
Notes

2. What’s a theme?
Theme: a central, underlying and controlling idea of a literary work.
As an abstract concept it may be represented by:
Character
Actions
Images
It’s generalization about human conduct may be serious or comic, profound or unsurprising.
The theme is implied (the story will not say “And the theme is…”)

3. Huh?
A theme is a phrase that summarizes the underlying meaning of the story AND a lot of other stories (including books, plays, movies etc).

4. An example thematic statement:
Perseverance leads to the accomplishment of a goal.
Here are at least 3 stories this thematic statement applies to…

5. Perseverance leads to the accomplishment of a goal.
Finding Nemo
Goal:
Marlin & Dory’s goal was to find Nemo
Perseverance:
Despite all of the dangerous encounters and moments of despair, they kept looking
Accomplishment:
(spoiler alert) They find Nemo

6. Perseverance leads to the accomplishment of a goal.
The Hunger Games
Goal:
Katniss needs to survive in the arena in order to live
Perseverance:
Katniss must fight others and elements (weather, hunger etc)
Accomplishment:
She survives and is taken back to the real world

7. Perseverance leads to the accomplishment of a goal.
Frozen
Goal:
Find Elsa and bring her home so it is not winter forever
Perseverance:
Anna, Olaf and friends battle bad weather and becoming frozen to save Elsa so she can unfreeze their home
Accomplishment:
Anna helps Elsa realize love will unfreeze the town

8. Perseverance leads to the accomplishment of a goal.
This is a theme because it is phrase that summarizes the underlying meaning of Finding Nemo, The Hunger Games, Frozen…AND a lot of other stories!

9. A thematic statement is an entire sentence!
IMPORTANT:
A thematic statement is an entire sentence!
A thematic statement is NOT
1 word
A fragment
Do not include details from a story
Character names, setting, specific quotes etc.

10. But…Sparknotes? Shmoop?
One word/short phrases a thematic topic
Topic=1 word.
Theme=full sentence
These topics can help you determine the FULL SENTENCE theme
Example themes for the topic of: RACE
Racism is learned so it can also be unlearned.
Children are able to see the personality of someone, not just their race.

11. Practice: Why are the following NOT themes in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Jem and Scout realize racism is bad.
Race.

12. Answers: Why are the following NOT themes in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Jem and Scout realize racism is bad.
Do not include details from a story
Jem and Scout are names that are specific to To Kill a Mockingbird
Race.
This is a topic. A theme must be an entire sentence.

13. What could be a thematic topic in To Kill a Mockingbird
What could be a thematic topic in To Kill a Mockingbird? How about a thematic statement?
Thematic Topic: Stereotyping/Judging
Thematic Statement:
The author believes that…
Judging someone based upon appearances can lead to false assumptions (and should be avoided).

14. Thematic Topics in Beowulf
We will be reading excerpts from Beowulf and recording thematic topics we notice as we read
Record quotes that represent the thematic topics you are noticing (and please CITE these quotes)
ESSENTIAL BACKROUND INFORMATION BEFORE READING:
guide/beowulf-the-summary/

15. Thematic Topic Chart Get a purple textbook and open to page 38
Have your thematic chart ready to go for notes as we read (we will address the BACK side of the handout when we are finished reading)
Make connections with how the themes/depiction of a hero in Beowulf may have influenced our world/literary depictions of heroes today.