Comparing Themes

Theme-it is the central idea or insight about life and human nature that gives the story their meaning.

Ex:

      Racial stereotypes blind reality.

      Like a boy and a girl must go through a special trial or series of trials before maturing.

Characteristics of Theme:

• it gives meaning to the characters and events
• It reveals the author’s attitude about how people do and how they should behave.
• It is what the author means, not what they write.

        Themes is mostly found in most genres:        

Five majors genres in literature:

• non-fiction
• fiction
• poetry
• drama
• myth

        Genre-a category that a work of literature is classified under

• think of the sections at blockbuster

        Themes are Generalizations:

                generalization-a broad statement that applies to or covers many individuals, experiences, situations, observations, or tests.

                Ex. People want to be accepted.

        Some themes are universal:

                Universal themes-themes commonly found in the literature of all cultures and ages.

                Exs.

                        Love will endure and triumph over evil.

        End the confusion:

                Theme is not:

•       a summary of the plot
• only about one person or type of people
• a subject:

                the topic, which can be stated as a single word.

A moral: a rule about how to behave

How to find a story’s theme:

        How does the protagonist change?

        How is the conflict resolved?

        Does the title have any special meaning?

        What message is being given by the entire story?

How to write a story’s theme:

        Check that it applies to the entire story.

        Check that it applies to life and human nature.

        Rewrite it if it is a moral of chiche.

        Be prepared to give support for the theme.