1. Theme The Story’s Meaning and Roots
English I

2. What is a Theme?
Theme: some idea or insight about human life and human nature that gives meaning to the story
A good story should mean something to the reader.
The story can reveal the writer’s whole view of life (how it works or fails to work).

3. What Do We Mean by Theme? A theme is unseen and usually unstated
Theme is an idea; it may give insight into some aspect of life
Theme is not the same as the story’s plot (series of events)
Theme is not the same as the story’s subject

4. Discovering a Story’s Theme
1. A theme may be stated in no less than a single sentence (may need to be longer).
Ex. Hard work will always be rewarded.
2. A theme is not the same thing as a moral, which is a rule of conduct.
Ex. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. (This is a moral because it tells you what to do.)

5. Discovering a Story’s Theme
3. Ask how the protagonist has changed during the story & what the character has learned about life.
4. There is no one correct way to state the theme of a story. You may have several ideas about what the theme is.