1. Theme
What does it mean?

2. What Is Theme? Theme is the central idea of a work of literature.
Usually, the theme reveals a truth about human behavior.

3. Theme vs. Subject The subject is what the story is about.
The story of “The Three Little Pigs” is about planning.
The theme states what the subject means.
The theme of “The Three Little Pigs” is that those who don’t plan ahead may suffer the consequences.

4. Where Is the Theme? A story’s theme is usually not stated directly.
All of the elements of the story—plot events, characters, setting, and dialogue—make up the theme.
© David Young-Wolff/PhotoEdit
Some people are willing to clean up the mess others have made. =

5. Stating a Story’s Theme
General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:
Step 1: Think about how the main character has changed throughout the story.
Ask what the character has discovered as a result of the story’s events.
Step 2: Use at least one sentence to state the theme.
NOT “The theme is technology.”
BUT “The theme is that technology can bring people together even as it seems to isolate them.”

6. Stating a Story’s Theme
General guidelines for stating a story’s theme:
Step 3: Remember that there’s more than one way to state a story’s theme.
You may even find several themes in one story.

7. What Have You Learned?
Decide whether each statement is a theme or a subject.
_____________— being an individual
_____________— Humanity must learn to value differences but also to see beyond them.
_____________— Dreams will not come true unless you work to make them true.
_____________— the importance of love
subject
theme
theme
subject

8. The End