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THEME. What is a theme ? The central idea of a work of literature, but it is NOT the same as the subject . The subject of a work can usually be expressed in a word or two: love, childhood, death . The theme is the idea the writer wishes to reveal about that subject.
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What is a theme? • The central idea of a work of literature, but it is NOT the same as the subject. • The subject of a work can usually be expressed in a word or two: love, childhood, death. • The theme is the idea the writer wishes to reveal about that subject. • The theme is something that must be expressed in at least one complete sentence.
What is a theme? • Theme is NOT directly stated in a work of literature. The reader has to think about all the elements of the work and use them to make an inference, or educated guess, about what its theme is. • Some themes are so commonly found in the literature of all cultures and all ages that they are called universal themes.
Universal Themes “Love will endure and triumph over evil.” “Arrogance and pride can bring destruction.” “Heroes must undergo trials and endure losses before they can claim their rightful kingdom.”
Common Themes in Literature “The Good (or Bad) Side of the American Dream.” “The Sacrifices Needed for Freedom.” “How to Deal with the Death of the Ones You Love.” “How One Should Face the Challenges and Failures of Life.” “Accepting Responsibility for Your Choices.” “The Meaning of Love.” “The Price of Friendship.” “The Importance of Being an Individual.” “How Facing Your Fears Makes You Stronger.” “How Good Triumphs Over Evil.”
For example… • One theme of Romeo and Julietmight be stated this way: • “Love is more powerful than hatred.” • Explain how this theme can be inferred from the events in the play.
Remember… The theme must always be stated in a complete sentence. The theme is an idea that goes beyond the text. (it applies to everyone; not just the characters in the text) The theme should clearly state the message or broad idea explored in the text.
Part One: Pre-Writing State three possible themes that you believe can be found in Romeo and Juliet. Defend your themes by citing events and actions from the play that you think portray that theme to the audience. Select the theme that you think best expresses the lesson Shakespeare wanted the audience to learn from the play.
Assessment Part Two: Product Create a poster to explain and defend your choosen theme. Include the important information about theme as a literary element. Use your notes and textbook as a resource. Select 3+ significant examples from the play including the actions and words (specific details from the play) that support your claim. Use text, illustrations, symbols, and any other devices you can to clearly and accurately depict the theme to YOUR audience. EXPLAIN - DEFEND - CONNECT - SUPPORT The completed poster is due next Tuesday!!!
