How to Determine THEME in Literature
February 17th, 2011
Journal: Laila has a strong bond with her friend Tariq. Describe
a close childhood friendship. Do you still keep in touch?
Quiz1. How much time has gone by since the last chapter? 2.
Describe Lailas appearance. 3. What is a good day like for Mammy?
4. What despicable act happens to Laila? 5. What is the name of
Lailas male friend?
How to Determine THEME in Literature
3Themes can be tricky to identify! They are rarely stated
directly.
There can be more than one possible theme based on different
interpretations.
Moral, subject and theme are closely related but not exactly the
same.
4Subject: What the story is about; it is essentially the
plot.
Moral: The lesson or principle contained in or taught by a
fable, a story, or an event. It teaches right and wrong behavior.
If you find yourself saying should, then you are entering moral
territory! (Ex: You should always clean up after you make a mess;
never tell a lie; practice what you preach). Fables and parables
have very specific morals.
Theme: The theme of a book is a message that describes or
reveals an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society.
It is a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or
artistic work. 5ThemeThe controlling idea or central insight of a
story is its theme. It is the underlying or philosophical idea that
the story conveys.
To determine the theme of a story, we ask what insights into
life or about human nature are revealed in the story.
6To discover the theme of a story we should ask, "What does the
story reveal?" rather than
"What does the story teach?"
7You extract the theme from the characters, action, and setting
that make up the story. All of these elements should in some way
support the theme. 8Put a T, M or S next to each statement to
distinguish whether it is a theme, moral or subject.
_____1. Even when life is at its most difficult, there are
always ways to find peace and happiness._____2. You should always
listen to music when you feel sad about things._____3. Music has
the power to make us feel more courageous and less afraid._____4. A
man plays his cello for people in a war-torn town._____5. People
who are committed to something can always find a way to make it
happen, even in the most adverse or arduous circumstances.
9Put a T, M or S next to each statement to distinguish whether
it is a theme, moral or subject.
__T___1. Even when life is at its most difficult, there are
always ways to find peace and happiness.__M___2. You should always
listen to music when you feel sad about things.__T___3. Music has
the power to make us feel more courageous and less afraid.__S___4.
A man plays his cello for people in a war-torn town.__T___5. People
who are committed to something can always find a way to make it
happen, even in the most adverse or arduous circumstances.
1012 Most Common Themes in LiteratureMan Struggles Against
Nature:Man is always at battle with human nature, whether the
drives described are sexual, material or against the aging process
itself.Man Struggles Against Societal Pressure:Mankind is always
struggling to determine if societal pressure is best for living.
Man Struggles to Understand Divinity:Mankind tries to understand
and make peace with God, but satisfaction is elusive and
difficult.Crime Does Not Pay:A popular theme played out in books
throughout time is the concept that honesty is honored and
criminals will eventually be caught. Overcoming Adversity:Many
books laud characters who accept a tough situation and turn it into
triumph. Friendship is Dependant on Sacrifice: This is the idea
that you can't have friends if you don't act like a friend.
11The Importance of Family:Sacrifices for family are honored and
explored, as are the family bonds that survive adversity.Yin and
Yang:Just when you think life is finally going to be easy,
something bad happens to balance it all out.Love is the Worthiest
of Pursuits:Many writers assert the idea that love conquers all,
appealing to the romantic side of us.Death is Part of the Life
Cycle:Literary works with this theme show how death and life and
intricately connected.Sacrifices Bring Reward:Sacrifices and hard
work pay off in the end, despite the challenges along the way.Human
Beings All Have the Same Needs:Book after book asserts that rich or
poor, educated or dumb, all human beings need love and other basic
needs met.
12Umbrella Job Titles Generic TeacherMilitary
OfficerDoctorPolitician 13Specific Job TitlesTeacher 12th Grade
English Teacher
Military Officer Lieutenant Colonel of the Army
Doctor Cardiologist
Politician Congressman
14Umbrella Theme
WordsLoveFriendshipViolenceForgivenessPowerCorruption
15From these categories we devise specific thematic statements
that are particular to a work. 16Themes in A Thousand Splendid
SunsMans inhumanity to manSystematic victimization of women by
patriarchal institutionsSpousal abuseResistance to
victimizationPower of educationEducation for womenCorrupting
influence of absolute power
Pick one of these themes and with a partner or small group and
find evidence of it in part one of the novel. You may also include
evidence from chapters 16 and 17. Record page numbers and excerpts.
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