1. “The Man in the Well” and “The Fly”
THEMES
“The Man in the Well” and “The Fly”

2. + = THEME What is a central idea from the selection?
How to Identify a Theme
A central idea is a major topic from the entire story—something that the author emphasizes throughout the text.
What is a central idea from the selection?
What does the piece say about that idea? + =
THEME

3. = + = + THEME What is a central idea from the selection?
EXAMPLE FROM THE OUTSIDERS = +
THEME
What is a central idea from the selection?
What does the piece say about that idea? = +
Pony changes his perceptions of people as he learns more about them.
Familiarity alters perceptions.
perceptions
A theme is not a word. It’s a statement.

4. = + = + THEME What is a central idea from the selection?
EXAMPLE FROM THE OUTSIDERS = +
THEME
What is a central idea from the selection?
What does the piece say about that idea? = +
Socs and greasers with broken homes struggle socially.
Broken homes negatively affect children’s relationships.
Kids’ home lives
A theme is not a word. It’s a statement.

5. = + = + THEME What is a central idea from the selection?
EXAMPLE FROM THE OUTSIDERS = +
THEME
What is a central idea from the selection?
What does the piece say about that idea? = +
Greasers remain loyal to each other in the face of danger
Loyalty is badge of honor among friends.
loyalty
A theme is not a word. It’s a statement.

6. NOTICE: loyalty A theme is not a word. It’s a statement.
Loyalty is badge of honor among friends.
loyalty
central idea Theme

7. = + = + THEME What is a central idea from the selection?
EXAMPLE FROM “The Man in the Well” = +
THEME
What is a central idea from the selection?
What does the piece say about that idea? = +
Helplessness can lead to suffering.
The man was helpless in the well and faced suffereing.
helplesness
Wait a second! Couldn’t we say that theme applies to Woodifield too? How about the fly? This means that this is a CROSS-TEXT THEME. It’s a theme that applies across two texts!

8. = + = + THEME What is a central idea from the selection?
EXAMPLE FROM “The Man in the Well” = +
THEME
What is a central idea from the selection?
What does the piece say about that idea? = +
The narrator chooses not to go back to the well where a man likely died.
People handle death in different ways.
death
Wait a second! Couldn’t we say that theme applies to Woodifield too? How about the boss? This means that this is a CROSS-TEXT THEME. It’s a theme that applies across two texts!

9. + = Cross Text Theme for “The Man in the Well” and “The Fly”
What is a central idea from the selections?
What do the pieces say about that idea?
CROSS-TEXT THEME + =
The children from “The Man in the Well” and the boss from “The Fly” are cruel when in a position of power.
Power can lead to cruelty.
power
(Maybe this does connect with the whole Hitler and World War II and Holocaust thing…hmmmm.)