English



English

J. Turner

What is Theme?

Theme is what a text implies about life or human nature.

A text can have more than one theme.

Theme is the “main” idea of a work; in other words, everything in the text should work together to help communicate that idea. Nothing in the work should logically contradict the theme.

How do I write a thematic statement?

Start by listing some of the topics of the text; for example, alienation, prejudice, ambition, freedom, love, loyalty, passion, etc.). The topic can also be a longer phrase, however, such as the relationship between love and hate.

Combine those topics with comments that reflect the author’s observations about human nature. What is the author saying about those topics? What does the author believe to be true about those topics?

How to avoid common mistakes:

|A theme is NOT |Instead, a theme IS |

|A moral or a command |An observation |

|It doesn’t tell us how to behave by using words like “should”, or by|It makes a comment about the way things appear to be in reality. |

|commanding. | |

|A common saying |Original and thoughtful |

|It isn’t trite, it’s not a cliché, or a maxim, or an aphorism like, |It should be something that you find interesting, something a bit |

|“Actions speak louder than words,” or “Absence makes the heart grow |philosophical whose wording you have come up with by yourself. |

|fonder.” | |

|Specific to the text |General, about reality |

|It doesn’t refer to the specific characters and plot in the text. |It translates the characters and plot into generalizations such as |

| |“people” or “parents” or “raising a child,” etc. |

|Absolute |Reasonable |

|It doesn’t use words like “all,” “none,” “everything,” or “always,” |It uses terms like “sometimes,” or “often,” or refers to limited |

|because that kind of statement is rarely true, and usually |circumstances, to suggest a more realistic view of the variety in |

|impossible to prove. |life. |

English 11

J. Turner

Evaluating Thematic Statements

Evaluate the following statements, crossing out those that would not make a good thematic statement, and making a note beside them telling why that is. Highlight, or draw a star or happy face for those could be appropriate thematic statements

o A brain transplant can show you who you really are.

o Accept who you are on the inside and on the outside.

o All mothers will break the law if the have to, to get their children back.

o Be yourself.

o Even though Evona knew it was wrong, she did what she had to do.

o Every child likes stories that have violent endings.

o Honesty is the best policy.

o Identity.

o Intelligence and careful planning can help a criminal get away with a crime.

o Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

o Love triumphs over all.

o Montressor was cruel and cunning.

o Mothers.

o Murder.

o Never get between a mother and her child.

o Never trust someone completely.

o Nobody knows how much of their personality is in their body.

o People don't often like stories that try to teach them moral lessons.

o Revenge is a dish best served cold.

o Storytelling.

o The bachelor's story showed the importance of vivid details.

o The bond between mother and child can push some people to acts of violence.

o There is a complex relationship between our identies and our bodies.

o You shouldn't try to teach morals with stories.

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