1. Advanced Language Arts Ms. Currie
Themes in Literature
Advanced Language Arts Ms. Currie

2. Theme – The Bumper Sticker for a Story
Central Idea (non-fiction)
Message or meaningful insight
Can provide a comprehensive vision of life
Purpose
In other words, theme is what the story teaches the reader, not just about the story itself, but, about life in general and can be applied to multiple texts.

3. Theme Defined The theme can be stated as a word or a sentence.
It implies a conflict or an argument about the core idea
You do not have to agree with the theme to identify it.
The author’s way of communicating and sharing ideas, perceptions, and feelings with readers
Examples:
Love, Solitude, Faith,
Money can’t buy happiness.
Don’t judge people based on the surface.
It is better to always be honest no matter what might happen.

4. Can you determine the theme?
Katie Clean invited Messy Missy to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie Clean had no idea what a visit from Messy Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Messy Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Messy Missy ate a bag of hot chips on Katie Clean’s white bedspread without asking, and Messy Missy is a sloppy eater, so hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie Clean tried to be polite and ignore Messy Missy’s sloppy behavior, but then Messy Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie Clean pretended that she was sick and asked Messy Missy to leave.
The next day Katie Clean asked the teacher if she could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Messy Missy would have finished the assignment by herself, but she spilled grape soda all over her assignment.
What is the possible theme?
How do you know? What happens in the story to show that is the theme?

5. Missy ruins Katie’s property and then had to work alone.
Possible Responses
Respect other people’s property
Choose your partners carefully
How do you know? What happened to show this?
Missy ruins Katie’s property and then had to work alone.

6. Try Again
Money Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When he was six, Money Mark wanted to go to a basketball game. His father paid the starting five of the Bulls and Celtics to play a private game of Nerf-ball in Money Mark’s bedroom. When Money Mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. His father hired the Rolling Stones to play with him every Saturday at the family’s private concert hall, though his family was never there. By the time he was twenty-one, Money Mark was bored with life. He was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didn’t appreciate and Money Mark could find nothing new or exciting in his life. Despite his vast wealth, Money Mark never found happiness. Penny Petal was born poor. Her family hardly had anything to eat, but they loved each ot
her. Penny Petal appreciated every thing she got. When she was six, her father walked her around the United Center before the Bulls played the Celtics. She was excited by the crazy fans and feeling in the air. She looked forward to the day that she could see a real game. When she was thirteen, she learned to play the buckets. She was an extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist, and everyone on the block loved the rhythms that poured from her palms. By the time she was twenty-one, Penny was a successful businesswoman. Now she had everything that she had ever dreamed of and she truly loved to share her wealth and happiness with her
family who supported her through all of the hard times.

7. Possible Responses Money doesn’t buy happiness.
You don’t appreciate those things you don’t work for.
How do you know? What happened to show this?
Mark was rich but miserable. Penny was poor but happy.
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8. Finding the Theme Themes are not explicit (clearly stated)
Themes are implied
Bigger than the story
Can teach a life lesson

9. Life Lesson
In the story about Messy Missy, the theme is not that Missy is a sloppy friend. It is that people should respect other people’s property – that is a lesson that can be applied to real life.
In the story about Mark, the theme is not that Mark is spoiled rotten. It is that money can’t buy happiness – again, this lesson can be applied to real life.

10. Topics vs. Theme
Topics are things that the story is about such as family, honesty, love, friendship, poverty, nature, etc.
Themes are specific statements about these topics. For example:
Families who share feelings with one another are stronger than those who don’t.
It is important for friends to be honest with one another if they are to remain friends.