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In a novel or short story, the theme is the author's message, a universal truth that applies to all people in all situations. The
theme should always be described in a complete sentence, yet is very rarely stated directly in the text. Instead, the author
indicates his meaning using symbols and allegories to represent his thematic elements.
To find the theme, we follow a four-step process.
Identify important symbols or allegories. These are usually indicated by frequency of appearance, intensity of description, or
importance to the story. For instance, a symbol that appears often and is described in great detail by the author (such as
probably has some connection to the theme.
Symbol/Allegory
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Fate of the symbol or
allegory
Theme
Hercules
Define the meaning of the symbol or allegory. Meaning can be inferred by listing the author's descriptions of this symbol or
allegory and then listing the connotations of these words. Remember, you should always express the meaning of symbols and
allegories with ONE WORD that is a NOUN.
Symbol/Allegory
Hercules
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Strength
Tragic
Fate of the symbol or
allegory
Theme
Trace the fate of the symbol or allegory. Once we know the meaning of the symbol or allegory, we also know what the theme
is going to be about. We call these meanings thematic elements, but we don't know what the author thinks of them. To find
out, we need to describe in detail what happens to the symbol or allegory. For instance,
Symbol/Allegory
Hercules
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Fate of the symbol or
allegory
Strength
Tragic
Hercules is the strongest human
-Hercules kills his family
-Hercules is constantly trying to
rid himself of sadness
Theme
Describe the author's opinion of the thematic elements in one sentence. Based on what happens to the symbol or allegory,
we can tell what the author thinks of the thematic elements. Write one sentence summarizing the author's opinion of the
thematic elements based on what happens to the symbols or allegories. For instance, a possible theme for "
Symbol/Allegory
Hercules
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Fate of the symbol or
allegory
Strength
Tragic
Hercules is the strongest human
-Hercules kills his family
-Hercules is constantly trying to
rid himself of sadness
Theme
-Physical strength is not
a guarantee of mental
strength.
Directions: Using the charts below, figure out what Hamilton is saying about the following thematic
elements based on her adaptation of Hercules. Use the process demonstrated on the front of the
worksheet.
Symbol
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Fate of the symbol or allegory
The Labors
Theme: ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Allegory
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Fate of the symbol or allegory
The great pyre
Theme: ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Symbol
Meaning
(1 noun!)
Fate of the symbol or allegory
Hercule’s
Children
Theme: ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________