Determining Themes
and Central Ideas
Fiction and Nonfiction
Standard for Reading
Literature
2. Determine a theme or central idea of a
text and analyze its development over the
course of the text, including its relationship
to the characters, setting, and plot; provide
an objective summary of the text.
Determining Themes in Fiction
• A theme is a message about or an insight into
life.
• In other words, it is the main idea of a work of
fiction.
• It is expressed in a statement, meaning a
complete sentence.
• Themes are developed through characters—
their decisions, experiences, and insights.
2 Types of Themes
• Stated themes are
expressed directly in
the text by the writer.
• Implied themes are
revealed gradually
through elements
such as plot,
characters, setting,
point of view,
symbol, and irony.
Implied Themes
• Implied themes are more frequent.
• READERS must determine the theme
through examination of characters and
story patterns.
Example
Story Details
Story Patterns
Generalization
from Pattern:
• Alex demands that Bob and Jake bully Ryan.
• Jake refuses. Bob bullies Ryan but feels bad afterward.
• Contrast: Jake stands up for what he believes; Bob does not.
• Before-and-After: Bob acts against his better judgment and feels
terrible.
• People who act against their better judgment may feel bad
afterward.
• Stay true to your own values.
Implied Theme
Your Turn
• For the following example passage,
determine the following information:
How is this a before-and-after story pattern?
Fill in the details that support the pattern.
What generalization can we make from this
pattern?
What then, is the implied theme of this text?
Before-and-After Pattern
A man went to a fancy party where he, along
with several other guests, was to be honored.
Dressed in ordinary clothes, the man was
overlooked—no host greeted him, no guests
chatted with him, no servants served him. The
man went home, put on his best clothes, and
returned to the party. Now the host introduced
himself and commanded the servers to bring food
to the man. When the man offered the food to his
dress coat, the host was puzzled. The man
explained that his clothes should have the food,
since the host was actually honoring them.
Example
Story Pattern
• Before-and-After: Treatment of guest
before and after his change of clothes.
Generalization
• The host and servants respond to
clothing.
Implied Theme
• People should be judged by their
characters, not their clothing.
Standard for Reading
Informational Text
2. Determine a central idea of a text and
analyze its development over the course of
the text, including its relationship to
supporting ideas; provide an objective
summary of the text.
Determining Central Ideas in
Nonfiction
• Nonfiction works develop central ideas through
the use of supporting details.
• A central idea is a key point the author wants to
make.
• All the details in the text develop and support
the central idea by:
• Proving it
• Explaining it
• Illustrating it
• Giving further details
Determining Central Ideas
• In most cases, the
author directly states
the central idea near
the beginning of the
text.
• In other cases, the
central idea is
implied by the points
the author makes.
• We readers can infer
the central idea by
determining what
point all of the
details combine to
support.
The Role of the Paragraph
• Each paragraph in
nonfiction develops
its own main idea.
• This main idea is
used to support the
main idea of the
whole text.
• The main idea of a
paragraph is often
stated in a topic
sentence.
• The topic sentence is
then supported by
reasons, examples,
and other details in
the paragraph.
All details in each paragraph, as well as each
paragraph itself, serve the larger purpose of
developing the central idea of the whole work.
Skateboarders
would no
longer
damage public
property, such
as curbs.
Topic Sentence:
A park would
keep
skateboarders
out of the
street.
Topic Sentence:
Topic Sentence:
Central Idea: Our town should
build a skate park for
skateboarders.
A park would
inspire
skateboarders
to take pride
in our town.
Central Idea
• How a text’s central idea is developed is
directly related to the author’s purpose, or
reason for writing.
• Example Purposes: To inform, to persuade,
to entertain
Rock climbing is dangerous.
Purpose
Angle
• To inform
Include facts about
accidents.
• To persuade
Add arguments about
the need for safety.
• To entertain
Include comical details
about a rock climbing
experience.
In summary:
• We readers determine themes in fiction, central ideas in nonfiction.
• Themes can be directly stated or implied through careful
examination of characters and story patterns.
• Themes are expressed in a statement, or a complete sentence.
• Central ideas are the main ideas identified and developed in
nonfiction.
• Usually, central ideas are directly stated by the author at the
beginning of a text.
• Each paragraph in a nonfiction text contains a central idea with
supporting details, and each paragraph serves to support the central
idea of the work as a whole.
• An author’s purpose for writing determines how a central idea will
be developed.
• Both themes and central ideas will be supported through details in
the text, and it is our job as readers to figure out what the
theme/idea is. It’s the “so what?” of our reading.