1. Universal Theme

2. Before you can understand Universal Theme, you need to understand theme.  Theme: The central insight or lesson that is found in a piece of fiction. This is the BIG IDEA—the thing the book is really about. It’s not the plot. The plot is WHAT happens. Theme is the meaning behind the plot—the reason the author wrote the book..

3. Themes in things you’ve read  Examples of theme in To Kill A Mockingbird: Just because a person is young does not mean that they have nothing to offer.Just because a person is young does not mean that they have nothing to offer. Racism is born of hate and also the society that you grow up in.Racism is born of hate and also the society that you grow up in.

4. And again!  Examples of theme’s in Romeo and Juliet: Fate controls our future.Fate controls our future. Young people should not be forced into marriage.Young people should not be forced into marriage. Feuds can destroy lives.Feuds can destroy lives.

5. Universal Theme  Definition: Ideas about the nature of all men and women or about the relationship of human beings to each other or the universe. Examples of Ideas that could be turned into Universal Themes: –A human being’s confrontation with nature –A human being’s lack of humanity –A rebellious human being’s confrontation with a hostile society –An individual’s conflict between passion and responsibility –Conflict between human beings and machines’ –The inevitability of fate –The struggle of equality

6. Universal theme in things you’ve read  To Kill a Mockingbird -Hatred can blind people to truth. -All people deserve compassion. -Individuals have both good and evil qualities. qualities.

7. Universal theme in things you’ve read  Romeo and Juliet -Fate vs Free will -Miscommunication between the generations generations

8. The thing to remember about Universal Theme: If the theme can be found all across the time periods and in different genres of literature, then it is universal theme.