Page 3 Determining Theme
Completion requirements
Determining Theme
Determining Theme
Determining Theme
When you are trying to determine the theme of a story, you must account for all details in the story and you must be able to defend your theme, if necessary, by referring to these details.
Hint: Construct a web. For longer stories, you may choose to brainstorm your ideas using a web. Many tools can help you construct a web on your computer, or you might find a hand-drawn one on paper quite satisfactory. Start by putting the topics in the middle. Then, use each arm of the web for the elements of the story. As you think about an element, ask yourself, “What is the connection between this element and the topics?” When you have a list of topics, look at your web again. Probably, you will have many ideas that can help you determine the theme.
Expressing Theme
Expressing Theme
When you have identified the theme that encompasses the author's message in the story, write the theme.
A theme is expressed in one sentence using third person generalizations that expresses the author’s main idea or intention and accounts for all the details in the story.
You must be able to defend your theme with details from the story.
Examples of Theme from familiar stories
| Story | Possible Theme |
|---|---|
| The Three Little Pigs | Taking your time to do something right pays off. |
| The True Story of the Three Little Pigs | Do not draw conclusions until you know all sides of a story. |
| Little Red Riding Hood | Appearances can be deceiving. |
| Goldilocks and the Three Bears | Think about how your actions might hurt others. |
| The Hobbit | Anyone can become a hero. |
| Hunger Games | It is important to keep your humanity and dignity as you try to survive. |
| Harry Potter | It is essential to always choose what is right over what is easy. |
| Star Wars | There is power in coming together to realize a common goal. |
Go to Assignment 1-1 and complete Section 2 now.
When you have completed Section 1 and 2 of Assignment 1-1,
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