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Analyzing Theme of A Story

The document provides guidance on determining the theme or central idea of a story through analyzing elements like characters, plot, conflict, and how the theme is shaped over the course of the story. It defines theme as the central idea or life lesson taught by the story. Theme is distinguished from subject in that theme is what is implied about the given subject. To find theme, one must first identify the subject by examining story elements, then analyze what ideas the author expresses about that subject. Themes can vary between individuals and a good work of literature can contain multiple themes.

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255 views10 pages

Analyzing Theme of A Story

The document provides guidance on determining the theme or central idea of a story through analyzing elements like characters, plot, conflict, and how the theme is shaped over the course of the story. It defines theme as the central idea or life lesson taught by the story. Theme is distinguished from subject in that theme is what is implied about the given subject. To find theme, one must first identify the subject by examining story elements, then analyze what ideas the author expresses about that subject. Themes can vary between individuals and a good work of literature can contain multiple themes.

Uploaded by

sadi Austin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ANALYZING THE

THEME IN STORIES

English/ Language Arts


AIM:

Students will learn to determine in detail the theme or central


idea of a story, and analyse in detail its development over the
course of the story. This will include how theme emerges and is
shaped and refined by specific details.
Definition of Theme

The theme is the central idea of any literary work. Moreover it is the
life lesson implicitly taught through the story or it can be narrowed
down to the author's message.

Theme teaches us a lesson that can be applied to the real world.

The theme is not a word, it is a sentence.


Difference between theme and Subject

Subject is basically the topic(s) in a story.


These topics are usually expressed in one
word - gender- or sometimes dichotomous
pairs such as “good vs. evil”.

Theme, on the other hand, is what is


inferred or implied about the given topic (s).
Process for Finding Theme

To find the theme we must identify the subject or topic, then see what
the author is saying about that subject/ topic. To find the subject we
must examine the following story elements :
● The title of the story - does it suggest any thing?
● The character
● Plot
● Setting
● conflict
Practice

● Read the story


● Following the process for analyze the characters, plot and conflict , write one
or more declarative sentences that state the life lesson learned and how it
was learned.

Test of Theme

Is the theme supported by evidence from the work itself?

Are all the author’s choices of plot, character, and conflict, controlled by
this theme?
Analyzing the subject to find theme

Now that we have found the subject, we need to question what ideas
we are given about the subject(s).

Once you are able compose a sentence based on the ideas expressed
by the author, you have found the theme(s) of the story.

NB: A good work of literature contains many themes.

Themes can vary based on individual experiences, this does not make one theme
right and the other wrong.

Once you can cite evidence from the story to support your themes your theme
is acceptable
Michael Jordan

In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the
varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North
Carolina. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that
Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team.
Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work
even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the
following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan
averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest
basketball players in history.
Possible Themes

● Determination is the key to succeeding


● Never give up
● Persistence eventually pays off

M J could have become discouraged when he was cut from


the team, instead he worked harder to achieve his goal.
Works Cited

https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/theme-worksheets/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFToXJehlhA&t=289s

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