PowerPoint Document Version
EILAND'S ONLINE ENGLISH CLASSES

Gemini fractal
Gemini courtesy of
Janet Preslar, FrActivity

Theme

THEME DEFINED

  • The controlling idea or central focus -- a unifying generalization about life stated or implied by story
  • Big picture
  • Usually alluded to or repeated several times throughout the story or essay

WAYS TO FIND THEME

  • Not all stories will have theme (but ones in this class usually do)
  • Look for repeated actions, words or phrases
  • Often exhibited through symbols, irony, conflicts, setting or plot
  • Sometimes knowing about the author can be helpful
WHAT THEME IS NOT
  • It is not the "moral" or "lesson" to the story
  • It is not necessarily a distinction of right vs. wrong
  • It is not the only reason the story was written (enjoyment)
  • It is not a cliche -- that's too simplistic
  • The truth, the answer

WHAT THEME IS

  • One person's opinion
  • It is often implied, repeated in abstract ways throughout story
  • It is an insight on life, designed to give us understanding of how we act and how we perceive our world
  • Can even question or rebut beliefs held by reader

KEEP IN MIND...

  • Express it as a complete sentence: not "death" or "good death" but "Death is often a benefit more than a curse."
  • It is general -- not so specific it only applies to story at hand -- no names or details from story
  • Avoid absolutes (all, every, never)
  • It is unifying -- i.e., any major element of story must fit into theme -- if it doesn't, modify the theme
  • There may be more than one and there may be several ways to present them -- just make sure it fits
  • No cliches
  • See LITERARY TERMS for more.

© T. T. Eiland, January 1998
Last modified: March 30, 2000