Identifying Theme in Poetry

To identify theme in a poem, you can follow some steps. Begin by ensuring that you comprehend the poem fully before attempting to discuss theme. That is, first identify the topic/subject, and then begin looking for the poet's point in creating the text. What is the message the poet is communicating? Then you might start to formulate a statement of theme, using the guidelines on the previous page.


Self Assessment

 Answer the comprehension questions based on the poem below before you attempt to formulate a statement of theme.

King Solomon and the Ants
         John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)


1. Out from Jerusalem
The king rode with his great
War chiefs and lords of state,
And Sheba's queen with them.

2. Proud in the Syrian sun,
In gold and purple sheen,1
The dusky Ethiop queen 2
Smiled on King Solomon.

3. Wisest of men, he knew
The languages of all
The creatures great or small
That trod the earth or flew. 3

4. Across an ant-hill led
The king's path, and he heard
Its small folk, and their word
He thus interpreted:

5. "Here comes the king men greet 4
As wise and good and just,
To crush us in the dust
Under his heedless feet." 5

6. The great king bowed his head,
And saw the wide surprise
Of the Queen of Sheba's eyes
As he told her what they said.

7. "O king!" she whispered sweet,
"Too happy fate have they
Who perish in thy way 6Beneath thy gracious feet! 7

8. "Thou of the God-lent crown,
Shall these vile creatures dare 8Murmur against thee where
The knees of kings kneel down?"

9. "Nay," Solomon replied, 9"The wise and strong should seek
The welfare of the weak;" 10
And turned his horse aside.

10. His train, with quick alarm, 11
Curved with their leader round
The ant-hill's peopled mound,
And left it free from harm.

11. The jeweled head bent low;
"O king!" she said, "henceforth 12
The secret of thy worth
And wisdom well I know.

12. "Happy must be the State
Whose ruler heedeth more 13
The murmurs of the poor
Than flatteries of the great." 14
This is an old poem. Here is some vocabulary help...

1 sheen - shining
2 dusky - dark-skinned (The Queen of Sheba was Ethiopian.)
3 trod - walked
4 greet - say hello
5 heedless - careless
6 perish - die
7 thou, thy, thee - words for you and your in Old English

8 vile - unimportant, of little worth or value

9 nay - no
10 welfare - well-being 
11 train - a crowd of followers
alarm - warning
12henceforth - from now on
13 heedeth - listens             
14 flatteries - praise for the purpose of gaining favour



Respond to these comprehension questions:     
  1. What happens in the poem?  
  2. Why was the ant king's greeting ironic? 
  3. What did the Queen of Sheba suggest? 
  4. Why did Solomon ride around the anthill?  
  5. What did the Queen of Sheba learn from this experience? 

After you have answered these questions, write the theme of "Solomon and the Ants". To determine the theme, reflect on the following questions.   
  • What is the poet saying about government? 
  • How tempting is it to abuse power or become a dictator?
  • Why would a country be happy whose leaders care about justice?
  • What is the value of life? 
  • Is anyone's life worthless?
  • When does a right end and responsibility begin? 
  • Is it naive and unrealistic to be soft-hearted?
  • Do you accept Solomon's reasons for going around the anthill?  Could he have had ulterior motives?
  • Does the poem say something about relationships between men and women?
Click here  for suggested answers.