THEME &
THEMATIC THESIS
STATEMENTS
WHAT IS A THEME?
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an idea about life, life situations, and human behavior.
It is not directly stated; it is inferred (figured out by looking closely
at the story).
Most stories, plays, novels, and poems have more than one theme.
Disclaimer: Some works, like mysteries, might be intended
primarily for entertainment and not have a clear theme.
To figure out the themes, you can ask some of the following
questions:
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What is this story really about?
What does this story say about people or human nature?
What stage of life or aspect of living is this story about?
What ideas can I get about themes by thinking about the title?
What do you think the author is trying to say to people by writing this story?
What lesson(s) has the main characters learned so far?
What emotions do you feel as a reader? What thoughts are you thinking about the
people and events in the story? Why do you think the author wants you to feel this
way?
What kinds of universal human experiences are seen in the story? (An experience
that is universal means that lots of people can relate to it or have had similar
experiences.)
THEME VS. THEME STATEMENT:
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The theme of a story is a general idea about life or people
summed up in just a few words.
A theme statement is a full sentence that clearly states
how this theme or idea applies to all people.
 It is an observation of human behavior.
 It does NOT mention any particular piece of writing.
THEME
(General Idea)
Jealousy
Death/Loss
Love
Diversity
THEME STATEMENT
(Sentence about human behavior)
Jealousy often leads to cruel behavior.
The death of innocence is inevitable.
Unconditional love withstands any obstacle.
Celebrating diversity allows people to
embrace their differences.
A STATEMENT OF THEME IS NOT:
1.
ONE WORD. That is a topic.
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2.
A definition
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3.
Bad example: Greasers and Socs don’t get along. NO!
A directive/order
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5.
Bad example: Love is when you have feelings for someone.
NO!
Specifically about one story or character; rather, it is
universal.
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4.
Bad example: The theme was love. NO!
Bad Example: You will destroy those around you when put
in a position of power.
Always positive
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Bad Example: When a person is faced with life or death,
they will save themselves rather than those around them.
A STATEMENT OF THEME SHOULD:
Have a subject and a verb.
 Be a generality about life.
 Be applicable to character and action in the novel
as well as people and life in general.
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CORRECT STATEMENT OF THEME?
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In “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers,” Rich uses imagery to
reveal the theme that the talent of women was
not accepted or recognized as something groundbreaking in the 1900’s.
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NO! This theme is too specific. How could it be fixed?
In “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers,” Rich uses
personification of fanciful tigers to convey the
theme of inequality that causes Aunt Jennifer to
be unhappy in her marriage.
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NO! This theme doesn’t incorporate a subject and a
verb and isn’t a generality about life. How could it be
fixed?
USE THE FOLLOWING AS A TEMPLATE:
______________________ is a novel/short story/
poem/essay about __________________. It shows that
____________________________________________.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Place a single word or a short phrase (an abstract
idea or concept) in the “about” blank.
Then explain the truth about the human condition
as it relates to the work.
The sentence should show insight into the issues in
the novel. Ask yourself, “What is the book really
about?”
Do not complete the sentence with a plot summary.
EXAMPLES:
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a book about
the hypocrisy of slavery. It shows that racism distorts
the oppressors as much as it does those who are
oppressed.
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn reveals the paradox of
slavery: it distorts the oppressors as much as it does those
who are oppressed.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a book about
moral education. It shows that only through deep
introspection, away from society, can an individual
learn how he truly wants to live.
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn teaches that true
moral education can be achieved through deep
introspection, as an individual learns how he truly wants
to live.
YOUR TURN!
Read the following attempts at thematic thesis
statements.
 If they are written correctly, discuss their
positive attributes.
 If there are problems, what are they?
 Then correct them using what you have learned,
and write the corrected sentences on your notes.
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LOVE
Love doesn’t always allow a happy ending.
 Where there is love there is also hurt.
 Even through the darkest of times and betrayal,
love cannot leave one’s own feelings.
 Nothing good comes from love; it only stabs you
in the back.
 Love cannot overcome every obstacle.
 Love is often unconventional and usually appears
when we are not looking for it.
 Love can both heal and destroy.
 Love is not always synonymous with happiness,
and love cannot be easily found.
 Love makes a person blind.
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FEELING VS JUDGMENT
Passion interferes with reason and moral
responsibility.
 Often there is competition between the mind and
the heart.
 Reason overcomes passion.
 Honesty can mend a broken heart.
 Education provides emotional satisfaction
separated from emotional hardships of the world.
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SOCIAL CLASS & SOCIAL RULES
True love doesn’t depend on status or wealth, but
instead on character.
 Social standing shouldn’t dictate who you love.
 Class distinctions and societal expectations can
hold back true love.
 Class distinctions limit a person from being who
they really are.
 Social class does not represent the value of a
person.
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FAMILY
Family is not always what one is born into.
 Family must accept each other as their own or no
mutual respect will be given.
 Having family is worth more than having a large
sum of money.
 Family is not determined by blood, but by love.
 A family is a group of people who love each other,
not those who are related.
 Family may always be blood, but those who show
love and care.
 Family helps each individual find their identity.
Without family, there is no guidance.
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INDEPENDENCE & SELFHOOD
Sometimes the choices made are not the choices
wanted.
 To stand with someone else, one must first stand
alone.
 Respect for one’s self is more important than the
opinions of others.
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HOME
The house a person was raised in may not be
their home, home is where a person feels loved
and respected.
 Home is where the heart is, unless it belongs to
someone, then home will always be with them.
 Lacking of a home leads to lack of safety, comfort,
and loving relationships.
 Home isn’t always where someone feels
comfortable and safe, but also having
relationships with others.
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JANE EYRE
THEMATIC THESIS STATEMENTS
Jane strives to find a balance between servitude
and independence.
 Real love grows out of the mutual respect of free
minds.
 Personal virtues are better indicators of
character than class status.
 Real love is born out of servitude.
 Striving for equality requires sacrifice.
 Virtuous faith does not consume the individual’s
personality.
 One can be virtuous and religious but also
exercise the freedom to love and feel.
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JANE EYRE
THEMATIC THESIS STATEMENTS
Finding the balance between independence and
submission can be difficult.
 Unchecked passion can override reason and
moral responsibility.
 Passion can make a person silly or dangerous,
while repression can make a person cold;
therefore, it’s best to avoid either extreme.
 A life of love can also be a life of serious purpose.
 The line between the supernatural and the
spiritual is blurry and very thin.
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ABSTRACT IDEAS & CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER:
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Alienation
Ambition
Appearance vs. Reality
Custom, tradition
Betrayal
Bureaucracy
Chance, Fate, Luck
Children
Courage vs. Cowardice
Defeat, Failure
Disillusionment
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Dreams, Fantasies
Duty
Education
Escape
Exile
Faith, Loss of Faith
Falsity, Pretense
Family, Parenthood
Free Will
Games, Contests, Sports
Greed
ABSTRACT IDEAS & CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER:
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Guilt
Heaven, Paradise, Utopia
Home
Initiation
Illusion
Innocence
Instinct
Journey
Law vs. Justice
Loneliness
Loyalty
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Materialism
Memory
Mobs
Mysterious
Persistence, Perseverance
Patriotism
Poverty
Prejudice
Prophecy
Reason
Repentance
ABSTRACT IDEAS & CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER:
Resistance, Rebellion
 Revenge, Retribution
 Ritual & Ceremony
 Scapegoat, Victim
 Social Status
 Supernatural
 Time, Eternity
 War
 Women, Feminism
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