Analysis of Theme Assignment
This book analysis asks you to discuss the themes of the book and how the
elements of the novel relay the theme. Discuss the following elements of the
novel in relation to the theme:
□ Title of the novel
□ Setting of the novel
□ Characters in the novel
□ Plot of the novel
□ Symbolism in the novel.
You must use at least six quotations from the novel to support your thematic
analysis.
You must start your essay with an introduction of the novel. The first paragraph
should mention the author, publisher and title of the novel. It should also
mention the genre of the novel and the intended audience of the novel. You
should also mention whether the novel has won any awards or is a bestseller.
Finding a Theme of a Work of Literature
When you were young, your parents may have read you stories that ended
with “the moral of this story is…”
That moral was a message that you could glean from the overall story. For
instance, from The Three Little Pigs we learned about the importance of
planning a project well (building a brick house), and you could call that (good
planning) the theme of the book. But we could also say the theme was about
making smart choices. A theme isn’t stated outright; it often appears as a
lesson or message that the reader understands by reading between the lines.
A literary work can have many themes. Why? Because different people can
find different meanings in books. You may find a lesson that others don’t see.
However, there is generally one primary message the author wants to make
certain that readers understand.
Outline worksheet: Analysis of Novel’s Theme
Decide on a theme for your novel
Ex: The theme of The Giver is that a society that values conformity over individual choice will
ultimately fail because people desire the ability to choose.
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Write an introductory paragraph giving details about the novel you read. Start with:
____________________ is a novel by ______________________________.
Then answer the following questions:
When was the book published?
What is the publisher’s name?
What is the genre of the novel?
Who is the intended audience of the novel?
Has the novel won any awards?
Finally, give the theme of the novel at the end of the paragraph by writing:
The theme of _____________________ is _____________________________________.
Then use the following elements of the novel to prove the theme:
Plot
Characters
Setting
Title
Symbolism
In your first paragraph, discuss the title and how it relates to the theme. Answer the following
questions:
How does the title relate to the theme? Restate the theme and discuss how the title
connects to the theme.
In the next several paragraphs, discuss the plot and use examples to prove what the theme
of the novel. Answer the following questions:
How does the author use the plot to demonstrate the theme? What happens in the plot that
delivers the message of the theme. What quotation can you use to prove this?
In one paragraph discuss how the setting relates to the theme. Answer the following
questions:
What about the setting relates to the theme? Does the setting affect the lesson that is
learned? Could the novel have been set somewhere else and the lesson been the same?
What examples of the novel can you use to prove this?
In one paragraph discuss how the characters affect the theme. Answer the following
questions:
Which characters learn the lesson of the book? How do they learn the lesson? What
examples can you use to prove this?
In one paragraph discuss the symbolism in the novel.
What symbols relate to the theme? How can you prove this?