Genre vs. Theme
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
What’s the difference?
Let’s first look at genre…
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Genre is a category of artistic
composition marked by a
distinctive style, form, or
content.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Think of genre as a category in
literature.
Can you think of any?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
tragedy, comedy, farce, mystery,
poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc…
These are all genres.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
In film there are similar genres
such as tragedy, comedy, farce,
westerns, science fiction, fantasy,
documentary, etc…these are all
genres.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Now let’s look at theme.
When asked to look at
theme think of “message.”
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
What life lessons can be learned
by watching the character handle
the conflict?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Theme is defined as a topic
of discussion; subject of
artistic representation; an
implicit or recurrent idea; a
motif
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Theme can be issues of
loyalty, vengeance,
unrequited love,
redemption,
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
There are universal themes.
You’ll find these themes
reoccurring over and over
again.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Universal themes
come from emotions
and transcend (cut-through)
culture, gender, age, geography,
historical period, and genres.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Universal themes come from
such topics or as:
-Acceptance
-Beauty
-Betrayal
-Death
-Deception
-Despair
-Education
-Envy
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
More topics from which we
get universal themes:
-Fear
-Family
-Faith
-Freedom
-Friendship -Greed
-Hatred
-Hope
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Genre vs. Theme
Even more topics from which
we get universal themes:
-Honesty
-Identity
-Innocence
-Justice
-Law
-Love
-Money
-Nature
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Genre vs. Theme
…and more topics from which
we get universal themes:
-Peace
-Poverty
-Pride
-Revenge
-Sacrifice
-Time
-Truth
-War
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Remember genre?
Let’s think about genre again.
Think about a story you know.
Got one?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
What genre
would you place your story in?
What was the theme?
These are separate things and we
need to know the difference.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Let’s look at genre again.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Star Wars
belongs to a
genre. Can
you guess
which one?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
That’s right!:
Science
Fiction.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Harry Potter
belongs to a
genre. Can
you guess
which one?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
That’s right!:
Fantasy.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
The Simpons
belongs to a
genre. Can
you guess
which one?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
We call it satire,
which is usually
loaded with social
commentary.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Now let’s look at theme using
the context of our last
examples.
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Genre vs. Theme
Star Wars
has many
theme topics.
Can you
guess some?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
That’s right!:
love, loyalty,
persecution,
freedom, and
redemption,
just to name a few.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Harry Potter
has several
theme topics.
Can you
guess a few?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
That’s right!:
family, loss, love,
community, and
friendship, just to
name a few.
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
Even the
Simpsons has
theme topics.
Can you
guess some?
Joyet 2006
Genre vs. Theme
You guessed it: love,
loyalty, persecution,
freedom, redemption,
family, loss, community,
friendship and even
corruption.
Joyet 2006
Figuring out THEMES
Brainstorm theme topics by
using the strategy, “Most
Important Word”.
Joyet 2006
Figuring Out Themes
 After reading a story, think about concepts.
These are words that cannot be experienced
with your senses, but are ideas.
 Ask yourself… “What is a most important word of
this story?”
 Then, create a brainstorming tree and jot down
the concept words.
Joyet 2006
Developing a Theme Statement
Themes are not one word topics.
 Themes are messages about the one word topics.

For example: Acceptance
In Freak the Mighty, the characters, Kevin and Max,
learn that acceptance of each other’s strengths and
weaknesses deepens their friendship and helps develop
stronger self-confidence and abilities.
Joyet 2006
Developing a Theme Statement
Themes are not one word topics.
 Themes are messages about the one word topics.


Example: Perseverance
Cinderella perseveres even though her life is filled with
unfortunate difficulties. She remains hard-working and
kind. As a result of her perseverance, she is visited by
a fairy god-mother who rewards her. As a result of
perseverance, the prince finds his “lost” love.
Joyet 2006
How to develop your theme topic
 Ask yourself what was the result (of your most
important word) for the main character.
 How does the character develop and grow?
 What is the universal message that a reader can
apply to his or her own life? What was the
author’s purpose?
Joyet 2006