Theme

What is a theme?

Theme

• big idea or message about people, life, and the world
• What the author wants us to learn
• what the story teaches the reader.

How do we know the theme?

• Themes apply to the real world, not just the story
• Themes must be inferred, the author will not tell us what the theme is.
• we use setting, characters, and plot to determine the theme

Examples

of some themes

hope for the best

Plot or Theme

be a good friend

Plot-what happened in the story

Characters-problem-solution

be fair

tell the truth

Theme: what we learn from the story.

be brave

work hard