THEMATIC STATEMENT GUIDELINES
In your study of literature, you will be asked to arrive at a theme for a story, novel, play, or poem. A
theme is an insight about life and people which the text reveals to you the reader. A theme is a universal
truth that applies beyond any one text, and many great pieces of literature have more than one theme.
What is the author saying about life, fate, love, war, etc. in that text?
A theme is:
 A theme must be a complete sentence.
 A theme is a statement--not a question. “What is Fate?” is not a theme of a story.
 A theme must reflect the focus of the literary work. Consider plot (especially central conflict and
resolution), characterization, setting, point of view, tone, symbolism, direct commentary which
reflects a recurring idea…)
A theme is not:
 A theme does not mention specifics from the literary work. (characters, setting, action, etc.) but
rather be a general insight about life. It should have “universal” application.
 A theme should never be a cliché or otherwise trite statement.
 A theme is not a moral. Stay away from “Do this…” “Don’t do that…” statements. Never use the
second person (you, your, yours) either stated or implied.
 A really good theme should not be too obvious. (If it makes your reader ask “So what?” it is too
simplistic.) It should clearly indicate that you have given the literary work significant thought.
 A theme is not just a topic or subject, although you might work the broader implications of a topic
into your thematic statement.
LET’S TRY IT!
Complete the following two sentences using the instructions below. Then, rewrite the sentences into a
statement using sophisticated writing techniques.
____________________________________________ by _____________________________________
[TITLE OF ESSAY/NOVEL/SHORT STORY/POEM]
[AUTHOR NAME]
is about ____________________________________________________________________________
[ SUBJECT/TOPIC ]
The author is saying
about the subject/topic.
[ UNIVERSAL TRUTH OR MESSAGE ]
1. Place a single word or a short phrase (an abstract idea or concept; see below) in the first blank.
2. In the second blank, explain what the author is saying about the truth of the human condition as it
relates to the subject.
3. Combine these two sentences into one statement. Your thematic statement should show insight into
the issues in the writing. You should ask yourself: “What is the essay or poem or book really saying
about the subject or topic?” What is the universal message here?
4. Do not complete the sentence with plot summary. Do not tell what happens in the story. Also, never
use words like bad, good, or a lot in a thematic statement.
[Suggested ideas on the next page]
Abstract Ideas and Concepts:
Alienation
Ambition
American Dream
Appearance vs. Reality
Betrayal
Bureaucracy
Ceremony
Chance/Luck
Children
Coming of Age
Courage
Cowardice
Cruelty
Customs
Death
Decadence
Defeat
Despair
Determination
Discontent
Disillusionment
Domination
Dreams
Duty
Education
Escape
Eternity
Exile
Failure
Faith
Falsity
Family
Fantasies
Fate/Destiny
Free Will
Freedom
Gender
Good vs. Evil
Government(s)
Greed
Guilt
Hatred
Heart vs. Reason
Heaven
Home
Human spirit
Identity
Illusion
Initiation
Innocence
Instinct
Intuition
Journey
Justice
Law
Light vs. Dark
Loneliness
Loss
Loss of Faith
Loss of Innocence
Love
Loyalty
Materialism
Memory
Mob Mentality
Mystery
Paradise
Parenthood
Past (the past)
Patriotism
Peace
Perseverance
Persistence
Poverty
Power
Prejudice
Pretense
Prophecy
Racism
Reason
Rebellion
Redemption
Repentance
Resistance
Retribution
Revenge
Ritual
Salvation
Scapegoat
Sin
Social Status
Submission
Supernatural
Technology
Traditions
Truth
Utopia
Victim
Violence
War
Will Power
Complete (and therefore wrong) thematic statement: “A theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is racism.”
Very, very weak thematic statement: “Harper Lee’s message in To Kill a Mockingbird is racism is a bad
thing.”
Appropriate thematic statement: “In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates the caustic
and destructive effects of racism in a community.”
Other concepts that are Universal: