1、ThemeWhat Is Theme?Universal ThemesFinding the ThemeMaking a JudgmentPracticeFeature MenuWhat makes a story linger in our hearts and minds long after weve read it?Often it is the idea on which the story is builtits theme.What Is Theme?Themethe central idea,or insight,about life or human behavior tha
2、t a story revealsGenresLiving a simple life leads to greater personal freedom.The deepest loneliness is sometimes felt when we are among friends.What Is Theme?In most stories,the theme is not stated directly.Instead,it is revealed to us through the characters experiences.End of SectionWhat Is Theme?
3、A theme is a generalization about life or human nature.Certain types of experiences are common to all people everywhere.Different writers from different cultures often express similar themes.Universal Themes shine a light on our common experiencesUniversal themes come up again and again in literatur
4、e can help guide us through our lives deal with basic human concernsgood and evil,life and death,love and lossUniversal ThemesMatch these familiar stories to the appropriate universal theme.It pays to work hard and plan ahead.Appearances can be deceiving.Universal ThemesQuick CheckStoriesThe Little
5、Red HenBeauty and the BeastThe Three Little PigsThe Ugly DucklingThe Frog PrinceA B End of SectionUniversal ThemesMatch these familiar stories to the appropriate universal theme.It pays to work hard and plan ahead.Appearances can be deceiving.Quick CheckStoriesThe Little Red HenBeauty and the BeastT
6、he Three Little PigsThe Ugly DucklingThe Frog PrinceA B A A B B B Keep the following guidelines in mind when you want to find and state the theme of a work.The theme is not the same thing as the subject.The subject is simply the topic.It can be stated in a single word,such as loyalty.The theme makes
7、 some revelation about the subject and should be expressed in a sentence:“Loyalty to a leader is not always noble.”Finding the ThemeWriters often express theme through what their characters learn.Does the main character change?Does a character realize something he or she did not know before?Finding
8、the ThemeConflict helps reveal theme.What is the conflict,or struggle between opposing forces,that the main character faces?How is the conflict resolved?Two friends find a wallet.One friend wants to return it to the owner;the other wants to keep it.People are often rewarded for making the right mora
9、l decision.They return the wallet and share a small reward.ConflictResolutionThemeFinding the ThemeSometimes the title gives clues.Does the title have a special meaning?Does it point to the theme?The theme applies to the entire work.Test your statement of the theme.Does it apply to the whole work,no
10、t just to parts of it?Finding the ThemeThere is no single way to state the theme.People may express the same theme in different words.There may be different opinions about what the main theme is.The most meaningful literary works often have more than one theme.Finding the ThemeWhat is the conflict a
11、nd how is it resolved?Finding the ThemeQuick CheckBecause of a feud over a piece of land,Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies.One night they encounter each other on the disputed land.Each thinks of killing the other.Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its weight.At first the men threa
12、ten each other.After a while,however,they notice each others suffering,make a pact of friendship,and look forward to being rescued and living in peace.Then they are attacked by wolves.synopsis of“The Interlopers”by SakiWhat do the characters learn?Two men are fighting over a piece of land.They put t
13、he feud behind them when they are both facing possible death.What is the conflict and how is it resolved?Finding the ThemeQuick CheckBecause of a feud over a piece of land,Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies.One night they encounter each other on the disputed land.Each thinks of killing the other.Su
14、ddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its weight.At first the men threaten each other.After a while,however,they notice each others suffering,make a pact of friendship,and look forward to being rescued and living in peace.Then they are attacked by wolves.synopsis of“The Interlopers”by Sa
15、kiSurvival is more important than land ownership.Letting go of hatred feels good.What do the characters learn?Finding the ThemeQuick CheckBecause of a feud over a piece of land,Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies.One night they encounter each other on the disputed land.Each thinks of killing the oth
16、er.Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its weight.At first the men threaten each other.After a while,however,they notice each others suffering,make a pact of friendship,and look forward to being rescued and living in peace.Then they are attacked by wolves.synopsis of“The Interlopers”
17、by SakiWhat is the theme?(State it in a sentence.)Finding the ThemeQuick CheckBecause of a feud over a piece of land,Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies.One night they encounter each other on the disputed land.Each thinks of killing the other.Suddenly a huge tree falls and pins them both under its w
18、eight.At first the men threaten each other.After a while,however,they notice each others suffering,make a pact of friendship,and look forward to being rescued and living in peace.Then they are attacked by wolves.synopsis of“The Interlopers”by SakiEnd of SectionIf you wait until tragedy strikes to ma
19、ke peace with your enemies,you may not be able to enjoy the rewards of forgiveness.Finding the ThemeQuick CheckBecause of a feud over a piece of land,Ulrich and Georg are bitter enemies.One night they encounter each other on the disputed land.Each thinks of killing the other.Suddenly a huge tree fal
20、ls and pins them both under its weight.At first the men threaten each other.After a while,however,they notice each others suffering,make a pact of friendship,and look forward to being rescued and living in peace.Then they are attacked by wolves.synopsis of“The Interlopers”by SakiWhat is the theme?(S
21、tate it in a sentence.)Dont accept a storys theme as valid just because the story is in print.Instead,ask yourself:Is this storys view of life too simplistic?Too idealistic?Too cynical?Formula Fiction Is the writer trying to push an idea that does not reflect real life?Making a JudgmentClassify each
22、 theme as either valid or not valid.Explain your choices.Making a JudgmentQuick CheckTrue love solves all of lifes problems.People who have a lot of money or power are sometimes greedy for more.People who do good deeds will be happy and will not suffer.End of SectionMaking a JudgmentClassify each th
23、eme as either valid or not valid.Explain your choices.Quick CheckTrue love solves all of lifes problems.not valid(too idealistic)People who have a lot of money or power are sometimes greedy for more.People who do good deeds will be happy and will not suffer.valid(true to life)not valid(too idealisti
24、c)Think of a story youve read that had an impact on you.Then,use a map like the one here to help you figure out the storys theme.Compare your map with the ones your classmates made.Did you and any of your classmates map stories with similar themes?Title:Topic:How the main character changes:How the c
25、onflict is resolved:What the title suggests:Theme:PracticeEnd of SectionThe EndGenresThemes are also important to other genres,or forms of literature,such as novels,plays,poems,and even nonfiction works.What Is Theme?Be on the lookout for formula fiction.Learn to make your own critical judgments about the fiction you read.satisfies a general preference for upbeat stories over true-to-life onesFormula fiction is written to a planMaking a Judgment
