ELA, Tech Academy, Mrs. Morrow Name: __________________
What is theme in a work of fiction?
A. CENTRAL IDEA. Theme is the central idea of a work of literature -- the life lesson the author wants you to take away from the story. In other words, theme is the main message. Theme is not just about the characters in the story; it’s bigger than that -- the theme applies to you and me and to everyone. In other words, the theme is universal. For example, in the movie, Lion King, the theme isn’t just that Simba needs to go back to help his people. The theme is that in life, we all should live up to our responsibilities.
B. AUTHOR’S VIEW ON A SUBJECT and/or LIFE LESSON. Additionally, the theme what the author want to say to us about a subject or topic, which usually can be identified by a word or phrase. If you ask someone what their book is about, they might say “bullying” or “someone who has cancer” or “some friends who have an argument.” Common topics include friendship, overcoming difficulties, inner qualities, family, love, control, courage, or power. We call these theme topics or theme subjects. It’s not until we finish the story that we learn what the theme is, i.e., what the author wants to say about a topic.
The theme is usually stated as a complete sentence; to repeat, the theme tells us what the author is saying to
us about a topic or a subject. Let’s say you read a book that about is friendship. The theme isn’t friendship.
Friendship is the topic. However, if you answer the question, “What is the author saying about friendship?” you will be telling us a theme. “Friendship” is a topic. “Making friends is not always easy, but if you make the effort, you will succeed.” is a theme.
C. DEBATABLE AND INFERRED. Additionally, theme is an opinion about something: you might not agree with it. In the example above, maybe you don’t agree that “If you make the effort, you will succeed at making friends.” That might not be your experience.
For example, let’s say that the subject of a story you read is bullying and that the theme is “If you bully others, you won’t have any friends.” You might say that’s not what you’ve noticed. Maybe the person who bullies you is the most popular kid in the school. (I hope this isn’t the case!) So there could be a theme in a book or story that you disagree with.
The point of having a theme is to give you a model of the real world. The author wants you to see the world through his/her eyes and for you to come to the same or similar conclusions he/she has.
A good author does not make the theme obvious. Instead, the author shows you what a slice of the world looks like, and expects you to put things together in your mind, just like you do in the real world, in your real life.
A good work of literature is complex and can contain many themes. Some of them are big and obvious while some are smaller and more original. It is even possible that two people can come to different conclusions on the same theme in the same work of literature. For example, in a novel called A Long Walk to Water, we might agree that a topic in the book is “war.” However, one person might say that the theme is “War tears families apart” because the main character, Salva, was torn from his family. On the other hand, someone else might say, “War causes people to come together to help each other out,” just as Salva did when he led the group of boys to Kenya. These are two opposing themes, but both can be supported from the text.
D. SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE. . . . Which bring us to this last point: Whatever you decide is the theme, it is important to back up or support your opinion with textual evidence.

ELA, Tech Academy, Mrs. Morrow Name: __________________
Characteristics of Themes
1.
Central Idea, Life Lesson. Themes are about more than the story or the characters of the story.
Themes apply to you and me.
2.
Author’s View on a Topic. A topic can be expressed in 1 -2 words. A theme is a statement about a topic, usually expressing the author’s view about a topic.
3.
Debatable. A theme is an opinion that can be supported by text evidence. You may agree or disagree.
The author presents to you a model of the real world in which you can see the world through a certain perspective (the author’s or another view the author has explored).
4.
Inferred/Not Obvious. The author rarely states a theme directly; a well-written text will lead you on a path that brings you to the same conclusion as the author.
5.
Evidence-based. Themes must be supported by the text. It is possible to have several themes in one work of literature, even opposing themes, but they must be supported by the text.
How to find the theme
1.
Ask yourself: What happens to the main character? If the main character changes over the course of the book in a good way, maybe the author is suggesting that we should be like that main character.
Alternatively, if he develops in a bad way, maybe we should avoid being like him or her.
2.
Watch for statements of theme:
Sometimes authors have the character state the theme. Some meaningful conclusion about life might be stated in a conversation (dialogue) or inner thoughts. Aesop’s Fables state the theme as “the moral of the story.”
3.
Look at the title for clues. Often authors put hints in the title that point to the theme.
4.
What is the main conflict? What forces are pitted against one another in this story? Who wins? Why do they win?
5.
Notice repeating symbols or imagery. Sometimes these lead you to the theme.
Theme Topic being responsible friendship
Theme
In life, we all should live up to our responsibilities.
Making friends is not always easy, but if you make the effort, you will succeed. bullying war war guilt naïvety
If you bully others, you won’t have any friends.
War tears families apart.
War causes people to come together to help each other out.
Carrying guilt causes us to become fearful.
It’s dangerous being naïve because it makes a person vulnerable and gullible.

ELA, Tech Academy, Mrs. Morrow Name: __________________
What is theme in a work of fiction?
A. CENTRAL IDEA. Theme is the central ____________________ of a work of literature -- the life ____________________ the author wants you to take away from the story. In other words, theme is the main message. Theme is not just about the characters in the story; it’s bigger than that -- the theme applies to you and me and to everyone. In other words, the theme is ____________________.
For example, in the movie, Lion King, the theme isn’t just that Simba needs to go back to help his people. The theme is that in life, we all should live up to our responsibilities.
B. AUTHOR’S VIEW ON A SUBJECT and/or LIFE LESSON. Additionally, the theme what the ____________________ want to say to us about a subject or a
____________________, which usually can be identified by a word or phrase. If you ask someone what their book is about, they might say “bullying” or “someone who has cancer” or “some friends who have an argument.” Common topics include friendship, overcoming difficulties, inner qualities, family, love, control, courage, or power. We call these theme topics or theme subjects. It’s not until we finish the story that we learn what the theme is, i.e., what the author wants to say about a ____________________.
The theme is usually stated as a complete sentence; to repeat, the theme tells us what the ____________________ is saying to us about a ____________________
or a subject. Let’s say you read a book that about is friendship. The theme isn’t
friendship. Friendship is the ____________________. However, if you answer the question, “What is the author saying about friendship?” you will be telling us a
theme. “Friendship” is a topic. “Making friends is not always easy, but if you make the effort, you will succeed.” is a ____________________.
C. DEBATABLE AND INFERRED. Additionally, theme is an opinion about something: you might not agree with it. In the example above, maybe you don’t agree with this statement: “If you make the effort, you will succeed at making friends.” That might not be your experience.
For example, let’s say that the topic of a story you read is bullying and that the theme is “If you bully others, you won’t have any friends.” You might say that’s

ELA, Tech Academy, Mrs. Morrow Name: __________________ not what you’ve noticed. Maybe the person who bullies you is the most popular kid in the school. (I hope this isn’t the case!) So there could be a theme in a book or story that you ____________________ with.
The point of having a theme is to give you a model of the real world. The
____________________ wants you to see the world through his/her eyes and for you to come to the same or similar conclusions he/she has.
A good author does not make the theme obvious. Instead, the author shows you what a slice of the world looks like, and expects you to put things together in your mind, just like you do in the real world, in your real life.
A good work of literature is complex and can contain many themes. Some of them are big and obvious while some are smaller and more original. It is even possible that two people can come to different conclusions on the same theme in the same work of literature. For example, in a novel called A Long Walk to Water, we might agree that a topic in the book is “war.” However, one person might say that the
theme is “War tears families apart” because the main character, Salva, was torn from his family. On the other hand, someone else might say, “War causes people to come together to help each other out,” just as Salva did when he led the group of boys to Kenya. These are two ____________________ themes, but both can be
____________________ from the text.
D. SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE. . . . Which bring us to this last point: Whatever you decide is the theme, it is important to back up or support your opinion with textual
____________________.

ELA, Tech Academy, Mrs. Morrow Name: __________________
How to find the theme
1.
Ask yourself: What happens to the main character? The answer to this question could be a theme. If the main ____________________ changes over the course of the book in a good way, maybe the author is suggesting that we should be like that main character. Alternatively, if he develops in a
____________________ way, maybe we should avoid being like him or her.
2.
Watch for statements of theme:
Sometimes authors have the character state the theme. Some meaningful conclusion about life might be stated in a conversation (
____________________
) or inner thoughts. Aesop’s Fables state the theme as “the moral of the story.”
3.
Look at the title for clues. Often authors put hints in the ____________________ that point to the theme.
4.
What is the main conflict? What forces are pitted against one another in this story? Who
____________________
? Why do they win?
5.
Notice repeating symbols or imagery. Sometimes these lead you to the theme.
Some content from: http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-readingworksheets/theme-worksheets/teaching-theme/ http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Tackling_Theme_Literature/