Theme vs Central Idea Theme A theme is
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Theme vs. Central Idea
Theme • A theme is the underlying meaning/message of a piece of literature. • It usually includes an observation about life. • It could be the moral of the story, a teaching or an observation of human experience. • By the end of the story, the character usually LEARNS A LESSON based on their experiences.
What is central idea? • CENTRAL IDEA refers to what the text is mainly about. • Central idea is NOT the topic of the text. • Cetral idea can most often be stated in one sentence.
How Can You Determine a Theme? • You are never actually TOLD what theme is in a story. • You determine theme from the characters and action in a story. • In short, you must determine theme on your own.
Common Topics for Themes NOTE: The following are not themes. They are common topics or big ideas on which themes are centered. * Courage * Hard work * Kindness * Being yourself * Hope * Honesty * Love * Acceptance * Jealousy * Fears * Doing the right thing
Common Themes • Be careful what you wish for. • Honesty is the best policy. • Crime doesn’t pay. • Sacrifice leads to reward. • We are all the same on the inside. • Money cannot buy happiness. • Love conquers all.
To determine theme, ask yourself… 1. What did the character(s) learn? 2. How did the character(s) grow or change? 3. Why did the character(s) act this way?
Theme - Example 1 • Beauty and the Beast - The theme could be described as “you must look beyond superficial surface beauty and look for what's inside the heart”
Theme - Example 2 • Aladdin - The theme could be described as love is not earned through money, but from the heart.
Universal Themes • Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all--either in our experiences or in our dreams.
Universal Themes A-Z • - abuse of power • - action vs apathy • - beating the odds • - beauty • - coming of age • - corruption • - courage • - effects of the past • - faith • - fall from grace • - family
Example of Universal Theme • What is the universal theme presented in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?