1. Universal Themes in LiteratureUniversal Themes in Literature

2. What is a Theme?What is a Theme?
 A theme is aA theme is a central messagecentral message revealedrevealed
through a literary work.through a literary work.
 It is aIt is a lessonlesson that the selection teaches or athat the selection teaches or a
major point that the selection as a whole ismajor point that the selection as a whole is
about.about.
 It is aIt is a generalization about people or aboutgeneralization about people or about
lifelife that is communicated through thethat is communicated through the
literary work.literary work.

3. The Theme can beThe Theme can be
Directly Stated or ImpliedDirectly Stated or Implied
 When a theme isWhen a theme is directly stateddirectly stated, the reader, the reader
is told what the theme of the selection is.is told what the theme of the selection is.
 When a theme of a work isWhen a theme of a work is impliedimplied, readers, readers
think about what the work seems to saythink about what the work seems to say
about nature of people or about life.about nature of people or about life.

4. Important things to noteImportant things to note
about Themeabout Theme
 There is usually no single correct statementThere is usually no single correct statement
of a work’s theme, though there can beof a work’s theme, though there can be
incorrect ones.incorrect ones.
 A long work, like a novel, full-length playA long work, like a novel, full-length play
or screen play may have several themes.or screen play may have several themes.
 Not all literary works have themes - a workNot all literary works have themes - a work
meant only to entertain may have no thememeant only to entertain may have no theme
at at.at at.

5. 5
What is the theme?
Jenny Puchovier was so excited. She had a pack
of Starburst in her lunch and she had been looking
forward to eating them all morning. Lunch finally
came and Jenny sat down to eat her Starbursts
when her friend Yudy sat next to her. “Let me get the
pink ones,” asked Yudy. Jenny liked the pink ones
best, but she thought Yudy was funny and Jenny
wanted Yudy to like her, so Jenny gave Yudy all of
her pink Starbursts. Before Jenny was done giving
Yudy the pink ones, Carrie sat on the other side of
Jenny. “Let me get the red and the orange ones,
Jenny. Remember when I gave you that Snickers?”
Jenny didn’t remember that, though she did
remember when Carrie ate a whole Snickers in front
of her, but Jenny thought Carrie was cool, so she
gave her the red and the orange Starbursts. Now
that she only had the yellow ones, Jenny wasn’t so
excited about eating starbursts anymore.

6. 6
Identifying Themes
Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).
Themes are implied.
Themes are bigger than the story.
Big World of the Theme.
Small
World
of the
Story

7. 7
Themes are about the big picture.
Not “Yellow Starbursts taste bad”
Not “Yudy and Carrie are bad friends.”
Think BIGGER.
Find “Real” World advice.
Big World of the Theme.
Small
World
of the
Story

8. 8
• Through metaphor
• Through simile
• Through personification
• Through tone of voice
• Through symbols
Sometimes implied
A THEME is...

9. 9
• Life is a yo-yo. It's a series of
ups and downs.
Implied through metaphors
A THEME is...

10. 10
Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream
deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
and then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load
Or does it just explode?
- Langston
Hughes
Implied through simile
A THEME is...

11. 11
Sleeping in the Forest
by Mary Oliver
I thought the earth remembered
me,
she took me back so tenderly,
arranging her dark skirts, her
pockets
full of lichens and seeds.
---
Implied through personification
A THEME is...

12. 12
Implied through tone of voice
A THEME is...

13. 13
Implied through symbols
A THEME is...

14. Understanding the differenceUnderstanding the difference
between Main Idea, Subject,between Main Idea, Subject,
Topic and Theme:Topic and Theme:

15. Main IdeaMain Idea
The Main Idea is any idea that isThe Main Idea is any idea that is
particularly important or central in aparticularly important or central in a
written work.written work.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

16. Subject = TopicSubject = Topic
TheThe SubjectSubject oror TopicTopic is what theis what the
selection as a whole is about.selection as a whole is about.
And remember theAnd remember the ThemeTheme is theis the
message or lesson that the author ismessage or lesson that the author is
trying to communicate.trying to communicate.

17. Main IdeaMain Idea
The Subject/Topic and ThemeThe Subject/Topic and Theme
fall under the umbrellafall under the umbrella
of the Main Idea.of the Main Idea.
QuickTime™ and a
Graphics decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
MAIN IDEA
Subject/Topic Theme
What the selection as a whole
is about
The lesson or message the
author is trying to make

18. When we learn about literatureWhen we learn about literature
we often ask many questions:we often ask many questions:
 What is genre?What is genre?
 Why read?Why read?
 Why do authors write?Why do authors write?
 Do people read and write for the sameDo people read and write for the same
reasons?reasons?

19. Why Read?Why Read?
 To gain knowledge, get facts/ideasTo gain knowledge, get facts/ideas
 Entertainment/pleasureEntertainment/pleasure
 To forget somethingTo forget something
 To transport yourself to your own fantasylandTo transport yourself to your own fantasyland
 To be aloneTo be alone
 To relaxTo relax
 We have toWe have to
 To learn about lifeTo learn about life

20. Why Write?Why Write?
 To share stories/ideasTo share stories/ideas
 To keep history aliveTo keep history alive
 Express our feelingsExpress our feelings
 To say what we knowTo say what we know
 To entertain othersTo entertain others
 To communicateTo communicate
 To tell about yourselfTo tell about yourself
 To express yourselfTo express yourself

21. Common Themes in LiteratureCommon Themes in Literature
 The only person you can truly trustThe only person you can truly trust
is yourselfis yourself
 It is important to follow yourIt is important to follow your
instinctsinstincts
 Man is inherently evilMan is inherently evil
 Man is inherently goodMan is inherently good
 Its not always good to listen toIts not always good to listen to
societysociety
 Its important to never give upIts important to never give up
 Human beings are products of theirHuman beings are products of their
societysociety
 It’s a crime to kill innocenceIt’s a crime to kill innocence
 The innocent aren’t always treatedThe innocent aren’t always treated
fairlyfairly
 It is important to stand up for whatIt is important to stand up for what
you believe inyou believe in
 Working as a team or group is moreWorking as a team or group is more
powerful than working alonepowerful than working alone
 Be careful who you dateBe careful who you date
 Be careful who your friends areBe careful who your friends are
 Trust your instinctsTrust your instincts
 Do what you must to surviveDo what you must to survive
 Follow your imaginationFollow your imagination
 There are times when you should getThere are times when you should get
revenge on your enemiesrevenge on your enemies
 Life doesn’t always have happyLife doesn’t always have happy
endingsendings
 The force is a metaphor forThe force is a metaphor for
spiritualityspirituality
 The force is the energy that binds allThe force is the energy that binds all
life togetherlife together