Themes
Tanner Wagley
What is a Theme?
A Theme is the idea that the author is trying to communicate to the reader about a topic. It is expressed as a sentence or a statement.
What is not a Theme Statement? What is a theme?
A theme is not:
- A theme is NOT a moral, a directive, or an order. These things tell us what to do, while a theme avoids judging people.
- Themes are NOT a clichés. “Actions speak louder than words,” is not a theme.
- A theme is not specific to a character or plot.
A theme is:
- A theme is an observation: it makes comments about the way things are in life
- A theme is original and thoughtful; it is something you find interesting and come up with by yourself.
- A theme does describe a general idea of a story.
How To Write A Theme Statement
- Choose a concept such as Love, Hate, Trust, or Fear that you feel carries through the text.
- Introduce the piece and who it is by than state what the concept is.
- Next talk about what the text conveys about the topic
- The end product should include: the name and author of the text, the concept, and what the concept reveals about humanity, life, the world, ect.
Example from the Merchant of Venice By William Shakespeare:
- In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare shows how people can show love in other ways besides words.
- In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare shows how people can be closed-minded when they have been taught one thing their whole lives.
- In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare conveys the message that people sometimes pretend to be something they are not to blend in.