The Literary Element of Theme - …



The Literary Element of Theme ? the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature. ? the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject—the writer’s view of the world or a revelation about human nature. Theme is NOT: ? expressed in a single word ? the purpose of a work ? the moral ? the conflict Identifying the Theme in Five Steps 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 by writing a one-sentence description for the exposition, the conflict, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. 2. Identify the subject of the work. 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? 4. State how the plot presents the primary insight or truth about the subject. 5. Write one or more generalized, declarative sentences that state what was learned and how it was learned. Theme Litmus Test ? Is the theme supported by evidence from the work itself? ? Are all the author’s choices of plot, character, conflict, and tone controlled by this theme? Theme Ideas in the OutsidersDivided CommunitiesPonyboy stands in the middle of two major conflicts: the conflict between the Socs and greasers, and the conflict between Ponyboy and Darry within the Curtis family. In the gang conflict, the novel shows how the two groups focus on their differences—they dress differently, socialize differently, and hang out with different girls—and how this focus on superficial differences leads to hate and violence. Yet the novel also shows how the two groups depend on their conflict in order to continue to exist. ?EmpathyEmpathy, the ability to see things through another person’s perspective, is central to the resolution of both the gang and the family conflict in The Outsiders. The two gangs’ preoccupation with the appearance and class status of their rivals underscores the superficiality of their mutual hostility, which thrives on stereotypes and prejudice. ?Preserving Childhood InnocenceThe Outsiders shows the importance of preserving the hope, open-mindedness, and appreciation of beauty that are characteristic of childhood. Ponyboy’s daydreams about the country, his appreciation of sunrises and sunsets, and his rescue of the children from the burning church distinguish him from other characters in the novel. These traits show that Ponyboy, unlike the other boys, still has preserved some of his childhood innocence. They also allow him to see beyond the shallow hatred between the Socs and greasers. ?Self-Sacrifice and HonorDespite the greasers’ reputation as heartless young criminals, they live by a specific and honorable code of friendship, and there are many instances in which gang and family members make selfless choices. These choices often reflect a desire to make life better for the next generation of youths. ?Individual IdentityBoth the Socs and the greasers sacrifice their individuality to the styles and sentiments of their groups. Greasers, for example, wear their hair long and oiled, and share a common hostility toward the Socs. Outsiders Theme GlogsterCreate a Glogster representing one of the Outsider themes.Include all the of the following elements: connected ideas, conflict, connection to title, how character and plot connects, quotes, symbols and what you learned. See rubric for expectations. ................
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