1. Theme
What is theme?

2. What is Theme?
Theme is the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature.
Theme is the idea about life that the author wants to convey to the reader.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY
What the main character learns and/or what YOU learn by the outcome of your book.

3. Theme vs. Topic Theme and topic are NOT the same thing.
THEME is a life lesson about a topic.
TOPIC is the subject the author chooses to write about.
For example: What is the topic of Romeo and Juliet?

4. Theme vs. Topic
Topic = War
Theme= War is Difficult

5. Theme Theme may be stated directly or implied. Usually it is implied.
This means you have to read and figure out what lesson the author wants you to learn. He/She doesn’t tell you.

6. How to State the Theme Use a complete sentence.
State theme in the form of a general life lesson.
This means that you aren’t using characters/events from the story.
Try to avoid using commands (“You should do this…”, etc…)
Avoid common phrases (called clichés).
Example: Money is the root of all evil.
How to State the Theme

7. Examples of Themes
You do not know a person until you walk in his shoes.
You should not text and drive.
Study hard and make good grades.
**Remember that the theme of the story is the moral, or life lesson, that the author wants you to learn.

8. Questions to help identify Theme
WHAT DOES THE MAIN CHARACTER LEARN?
What do YOU learn by watching (reading about) the main character and the outcome of the book?

9. The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
What do the Sneetches learn by the end of the movie?
What is the theme of this story/movie?
The Sneetches