2. What is THEME?
• … underlying meaning of the story; a
universal truth;
• a significant statement the story is
making about society, human nature,
or the human condition .
• The theme is usually something
everyone goes through; a statement or
a lesson about life.
3. • Themes can be found everywhere :
literature, stories, art, movies, and so forth.
• The theme can be a moral.
• Ask yourself, “What is the story teaching ?”
• Try to figure out the author’s view about life
by looking at how people behave .
4. Examples of Theme
Here are two examples found in
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton:
• HONOR -The Greasers, perhaps
because they don’t fit in to the
larger society, must create and
follow their own code of ethics.
For example, Dally once let himself
be arrested for a crime that Two-Bit committed.
One must stand by the code of honor, no matter the situation.
• VIOLENCE -Despite all the gang fights and shootouts, no
group ever comes out “on top” – the cycle of violence
merely causes losses, pain, and suffering for both sides.
Violence causes pain and suffering.
5. Examples of theme in The Hunger
Games
Food and safety are
necessary for survival.
Some forms of Government are unjust.
7. Common Literary Themes
(Themes repeated in many works)
• Love is blind. • The importance of
• Friendship. family.
• Honesty is the • Bravery.
best policy. • Never give up.
• Greed. • The truth will set
• Family and friends you free.
are worth a lot.
8. Common Literary Themes,
continued
• Loyalty: True friends will tell you when you’re
wrong, and they’ll never leave you.
• War: When man has suffered a loss, no one
wins.
• War is necessary sometimes.
• Kindness: It is better to give than to receive.
• Death is Inevitable.
• Guilt.
