1. Theme
The Search for Meaning

2. Finding Theme:
An old monkey on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered them to bring in a bundle of sticks, and said to his eldest son: "Break it." The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the sticks. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. "Untie the bundle," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, he called out to them: "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. What is the theme of the story? Why do you think so?

3. Possible themes could be:
There is strength in unity.
Team work makes the dream work.
Two heads are better than one.

4. What is a Theme? http://prezi.com/txpbdxtoknlh/main-idea-vs-theme/
Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.
In other words…
Theme is what the story teaches readers.

5. Themes A theme is not a word, it is a sentence.
You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.
Examples
Money can’t buy happiness.
Don’t judge people based on the surface.
It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

6. Identifying Themes Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).
Themes are implied.
Themes are bigger than the story.
Big World of the Theme.
Applies to the “Real” World.
Small
World
of the
Story

7. Themes are about the big picture.
Not “Yellow Starbursts taste bad”
Not “Yudy and Carrie are bad friends.”
Think BIGGER.
Find “Real” World advice.
Big World of the Theme.
Applies to the “Real” World.
Small
World
of the
Story

8. Review Theme is what we can learn from a story.
Themes must be inferred.
Themes are about the BIG world.

9. Practice We’ll read each story. Write what you think the theme is.
Write another sentence explaining what happens in the story that leads you to believe this.
How does the small world of the story connect to the big world theme?