Animal Farm: Topic vs. Theme

What's the difference and how can we find the theme?
Topic vs. Theme
Topic is one or two words that say what the story is about, and what issues or concepts it addresses.
Topic

Life
Example Topics
Theme is the writer's judgment or opinion on a topic; what the writer is telling us about life, relationships, and ourselves.
What's a theme?
Examples of Topics vs. Theme



Freedom
A topic is just a few words.
Trust
Justice
Violence
Childhood
Survival
Growing up
Family
Hope
War
Becoming an adult
Trust
Bullying
Love/Hate
Courage
Friendship
Theme is the author's
message
about a particular topic.
The topic of a story is NOT the Theme...
You extract it from the characters, action, and setting.
In other words, you must figure out the theme(s) yourself.
How do you find theme?
Nature
Individuality
THEME
Being yourself is important, even if it makes life hard.
THEME

People are destroying nature and themselves with uncontrolled technology.
How do you find theme?
Animal Farm
Step 1:
Individually Brainstorm 3 topics
Example: Hunger Games
What are the
topics
addressed in this story?
The
theme
?
Topic -> Theme
Choose 1 topic and write a theme statement
1) Examine the conflict,events, and the resolution.
2) Consider the
characters
and what they say and do. What are their feelings? What lessons do they learn?
3) Think about
your own reaction
. How do you feel while reading? What did you learn by reading?
Make a list of your top 5
Share with 3-4 people


2:
Share
3:
to theme
Collect as whole class
The theme statement is a general message,
not
specific to the novel or story