Theme
Theme is:
• The central, underlying, and controlling idea or
insight of a work of literature.
• In a fable, the theme is the moral.
• In a parable, the theme is a teaching.
• In fiction and nonfiction, the theme is a view
about life and how people behave.
Identifying Theme
Identifying the Theme
To identify the theme, be sure that you’ve first identified the story’s plot,
the way the story uses characterization, and the primary conflict in the
story.
Use these steps to determine the theme for a work:
1. Summarize the plot: Identify the exposition, the conflict, the rising action,
the climax, the falling action, and the resolution (or Somebody Wanted to
But So)
2. Identify the protagonist or main character.
3. Identify the insight or truth that was learned about the subject.
• How did the protagonist change?
• What lesson did the protagonist learn from the resolution of the
conflict?
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about,
chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by bearing
along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead
of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and
recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper. “We have got
plenty of food at present."
But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter
came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of
hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain
from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the
Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
• Source: http://www.knowledgerush.com/books/aesopa10.html
The Ant and the Grasshopper
• The Grasshopper wanted to play and have fun versus
collecting food but winter came so the grasshopper
was starving and dying of hunger.
• The main characters are the grasshopper and the ant.
The ant is a static character who does not change while
the grasshopper, a dynamic character goes from
carefree to learning that hard work and preparation are
necessary for survival.
• The theme is that it is best to prepare for the days of
necessity. This theme can relate to real world concept
of retirement. If someone does not put away money
and save throughout their lifetime, they may not have
any money to live off of once they are not working.
Your turn
Read “Gombei and the Wild Ducks” and Use these
steps to determine the theme
1. Summarize the plot: Identify the exposition, the conflict,
the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the
resolution (or Somebody Wanted to But So)
2. Identify the protagonist or main character.
3. Identify the insight or truth that was learned about the
subject.
• How did the protagonist change?
• What lesson did the protagonist learn from the
resolution of the conflict?
Gombei and the Wild Ducks
• Gombei decides to trap 100 ducks so that he
doesn’t have to work, but they begin to pull him
into the air. He turns into a duck and is trapped.
He realizes the error of his ways, transforms back
to a human and changes the way he lives.
• Gombei and the wild ducks
• Gombei changes from greedy to compassionate
• Freedom is a great and joyous gift (stated)
• Treat others the way you would want to be
treated (implied)
Faithful Elephants: A True Story of
Animals, People and War
by Yukio Tsuchiya
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What political or social themes exist in the story?
What words and phrases helped to reveal the theme?
Are the themes stated or implied?
What words and phrases helped to reveal the character’s
feelings toward the particular theme?
• What did the author do to help convey the theme
(illustrations, dialogue, simple sentences, the use of literary
techniques, etc.)?
• What historical event connects with the text? What are the
connections?
• Reflect on the story we just read. What are your thoughts?
What are your emotions? Do you think the theme is still
relevant today? If yes, can you give examples?
Background Information
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Hiroshima: the first city destroyed by a nuclear weapon
On August 6, 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a nuclear weapon, an atomic bomb dropped
by the United States. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki; five days after
that, Japan unconditionally surrendered to the United States, bringing an end to World War II.
The atomic bombs killed several hundred thousand people, many instantly in the nuclear fire, many later with
burns, injuries and radiation sickness, and still many others, over the years, with cancers and birth defects. These
deaths continue to this day. Like most of the cities bombed in World War II, the majority of the inhabitants were
women, children and the elderly.
Before the war began, bombing cities was considered an act of total barbarism; there were no “conventional
bombs” and it certainly was not considered “conventional” to target civilian populations for mass destruction. But
this ideal was shattered early in the war, and eventually all sides engaged in mass bombing raids against cities and
civilians.
After the Nazis conducted their massive bombing raids against London, the British retaliated by developing
incendiary bombs, fire-bombs designed to burn down cities. British and American bombers dropped these bombs
on 5 German cities, killing hundreds of thousands of German civilians in Hamburg, Dresden, Kassel, Darmstadt,
and Stuttgart. In March, 1945, the U.S. fire-bombed the city of Tokyo, killing at least 100,000 people.
By the time the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, 50 million people had already died in World War II. The
bombing/murder of civilian populations had occurred so many times that it was no longer even regarded as
unusual. I believe this is perhaps the greatest tragedy of the war, and it set the stage for the Cold War and the
nuclear arms race that followed.
When you view these images of Hiroshima, remember that there is a good chance that a nuclear weapon may
now be targeted on your own city and home. And consider that modern nuclear weapons are generally 8 to 50
times more powerful than the first atomic bombs that destroyed the Japanese cities.
Before
The Bomb
After
Here’s Your Task …
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Working with your group, you are going to answer the following questions:
What political or social themes exist in the story?
What words and phrases helped to reveal the theme?
Are the themes stated or implied?
What words and phrases helped to reveal the character’s feelings toward the particular
theme?
What did the author do to help convey the theme (illustrations, dialogue, simple
sentences, the use of literary techniques, repetition, rhyme, rhythm, etc.)?
What historical event connects with the text? What are the connections?
Reflect on the story we just read. What are your thoughts? What are your emotions?
Do you think the theme is still relevant today? If yes, can you give examples?
Once you have answered these questions to the best of your ability, you are going to
create a visual that will display all of your answers (in an abrreviated form). Your poster
board should be neat, free of spelling and/or grammar mistakes, and should be colorful
and aesthetically pleasing.