Boot Camp
AP Literature
Theme
Theme
Definition
 “The theme of a piece of
fiction is its controlling
idea or its central insight.
It is the unifying
generalization about life
stated or implied by the
story” (Arp and Johnson
188).

Not all stories have a
significant theme, but
theme exists in virtually all
literature. Also, moral
does not equal theme!
Where is the theme?
Theme exists only
 (1) when an author has
seriously attempted to
record life accurately
to reveal some truth
about it. (i.e. Mark
Twain—Adv. of Huck
Finn)
OR
 (2) When an author
has deliberately
introduced, as a
unifying element, some
concept or theory of
life that the story
illuminates. (i.e.
George Orwell—
Animal Farm/1984)
Huck and Jim considering a
possible theme a sinking
steamboat nearly drowns a
band of robbers.
Questions for discovering theme!
 What
is the central
purpose of the
piece?
 What view of life
does the piece
support?
 What insight about
life does the piece
reveal?
Six Principles Relating to Theme
1.
Theme must be a statement
about the subject.

2.
Cannot be one word or a
simple phrase—what is the
author saying about that
idea? (So what?)
Theme should be stated as a
generalization about life.

Do not use the names of
characters or specific plot
elements and developments
to state the theme.
You might say Alice in Wonderland is about
the “wonders of childhood imagination” or
the “uncertian nature of reality.”
Six Principles Relating to Theme
3. Do not make the generalization of theme larger than is
justified by the terms of the story. Use terms such as
all, every, always, with caution!


Unacceptable - The theme of “EU” is not that
“Habitually compliant and tolerant mothers will
eventually stand up to their bullying children”
Acceptable – “Ingrained habits can be given up
if justice makes a greater demand.”
4. Theme is the central and unifying concept of the story.
Thus, it accounts for all the major details of the story.

If an important character or incident doesn’t fit
the theme, then the theme needs modification
or the analysis is incomplete. The theme must be
based on the data of the story itself, not on
assumptions supplied by the reader’s
experience!
5. There is no ONE way to state the theme of a story,
nor is there often just one theme in a story.
6. Avoid any statement that reduces the theme to a
cliché. (“You can’t judge a book by its cover” or “A
stitch in time saves nine”) GO DEEP!

TIP: What IDEA is the author communicating?
This is a big picture idea—no plot. The author’s
commentary about this big picture idea is the
theme.
“Araby”
With a partner, one piece of
paper for both of you:



Devise a list of “big picture”
ideas that this short story
presents.
Select three.
For each “big picture idea”
 What
is the author’s point
about the “big picture”
idea?
 Find two quotes (partial are
fine) to support each theme
statement = six quotes total.
Theme with Mr. Sato
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM
Adding it all up
+
+
=
(Literary Element)
(Literary Element)
(Literary Element)
(Theme)
Adding it all up
+
+
(Point of View)
(Symbol)
. (Tone)
.
(Theme)
+
+
=
(Setting)
(Characterization)
. (Irony)
.
(Theme)
Adding it all up
+
+
=
(Point of View)
(Symbol)
. (Tone)
.
(Theme)
In the short story “A Rose for Miss Emily” William
Faulkner uses a collective point of view,
symbolism, and a reverent tone to portray his
theme, the decay of outdated traditions.
Examples
 In
the short story “A Rose for Miss Emily”
William Faulkner uses a collective point of
view, symbolism, and a reverent tone to
portray his theme, the decay of outdated
traditions.
 James Joyce masterfully incorporates
,
, and
to develop the theme
of the short story “Araby.”