Final updated version of the "Teacher Lecture" Presentation.

1. Analyzing Themes
Through Elements of
Digital Media
Reading ~ Analysis of Themes in The Great Gatsby
11th - 12th Grade AP English Literature
Ms. Becerra
Lecture Adapted From:
Ms. Avina's "Introduction to Characterization" Lecture
Literary Devices: Theme
Literary Terms: Theme

2. Lecture Objectives & CA Content Standards
• Lecture Objectives:
• Students will develop a better
understanding of how to interpret
Visual Elements, Audio Elements,
& Textual Elements when
analyzing a theme from a literary
novel
• Students will be able to create an
in-depth analysis of a major
theme from literary novels such
as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott
Fitzgerald
• CA Content Standards:
• Make strategic use of digital
media (e.g., textual, graphical,
audio, visual, and interactive
elements) in presentations to
enhance understanding of
findings, reasoning, and evidence
and to add interest.
• Determine a theme or central
idea of a text and analyze in
detail its development over the
course of the text, including how
it emerges and is shaped and
refined by specific details; provide
an objective summary of the text

3. What is a Theme?
• For the next five (5) minutes, write down
everything you know about themes & how
they are important in literary novels!
• Why are themes so important?
• (Hint: Recall your Webercise assignment)
(Educational Hook: Mastery)

4. What is a Theme? (Cont’d.)
• A theme is a main idea or meaning of a literary work that is
state directly or indirectly
• In other words, themes are lessons the author is attempting to teach to his
or her audience through the main characters and the plot

5. 2 Types of Themes: Major & Minor
Major Theme
• An idea the author repeatedly
mentions in his or her literary
novel or book.
• Example: The fear of the
unknown The Lord of the Flies
Minor Theme
• An idea that is briefly
portrayed in a novel or a book
before moving on to another
minor theme.
• Example: War & the fate of
humanity in The Lord of the
Flies

6. Now You Try!
• Now it is time to test your
knowledge on themes!
• Watch the videos on the left from the
film Frozen & answer the following
questions amongst your classmates:
• Can you identify a major theme from
one of the video clips?
Explain your reasoning in your own words.
• Can you identify a minor theme from
one of the video clips?
Explain your reasoning in your own words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m
53CG2oLUCA
(Han’s Betrayal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV
tMFF0m7ic
(Anna & Elsa Engagement Argument)
(Progress Monitoring Question: Mastery)
(Dual Coding Technique: Video Visual Aid)

7. A More In-depth Look at Minor Themes
• These particular themes are not constantly present in literary novels.
• They are not meant to be a part of the entire story, otherwise, they would
be Major Themes
• Purpose: To serve as discussion points for readers to talk about
• Example:
• In novels about war such as The Boy in the Striped Pajamas & Night, minor
themes can include the political aspects of war & how a country responds to
war.
• In novels about love or romance like Me Before You & The Fault In Our Stars,
minor themes can include flirting and marriage.

8. A More In-depth Look at Major Themes
• Unlike Minor Themes, Major Themes are a part of the entire
novel.
• The author constantly repeats these types of themes, therefore
making it the most prominent idea of the story.
• Purpose: To develop a better understanding of the message the author is
creating for their readers in their story.
• Examples:
• In novels about family such as Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, a major
theme can include how growing up in a dysfunctional family can have
significant effects on the parents as well as their children.

9. The Importance of Using Themes in Literary
Novels
• Why are themes so important in a novel?
• ”They are the meaning behind the story, the deeper reasons that the story
has been written and shared” (Literary Terms).
• Overall, themes teach valuable lessons to readers!
• By analyzing themes through various elements of digital media,
one gains a deeper understanding of the message the author
conveys to the audience…

10. Elements of Digital Media Organizer
Types of Digital
Media
Definition Purpose Examples Explanation
Visual Elements
Audio Elements
Textual
Elements
(Table Organizer)

11. Visual Elements
• Several pictures, Data & Statistical Information,
Illustrated Graphs, scene from a movie, etc.
• Purpose: To visually captivate the audience's attention
through remarkable images, graphs, etc.

12. Example of Visual Elements in The Great
Gatsby
• A particular theme that is prominent throughout the novel is the
mistreatment of women.
• Purpose: Visual Elements such as the images on the right
symbolize how women such as Daisy & Myrtle are mistreated by
their husbands & the society around them.
• These captivating images capture the overall theme of the
mistreatment of women

13. Now You Try!
• In groups of 3 - 4 students, create a Google Docs!
• In the Google Docs, answer the following
questions:
• 1.) Based on the images featured in the
previous slide, do the images truly
symbolize the theme of the mistreatment
of women? Yes or no?
• 2.) What is another purpose for Visual
Elements such as images, illustrated
graphs, etc.?
• 3.) What other forms of Visual Elements
can be used to visually illustrate themes?
(Progress Monitoring Question: Understanding)

14. Audio Elements
• Range from songs, a recording of an interview, a
delivery of a speech, etc.
• Purpose: To get the audience’s attention through
meaningful, significant words. These powerful
words have the ability to affect individual’s
emotions and thoughts.
• For example, certain songs such “High Hopes”
by Panic! at the Disco bring out certain
emotions such as happiness & optimism

15. Example of Audio Elements
in The Great Gatsby
• Audio Elements such as songs can
demonstrate the significance of the
theme regarding the mistreatment of
women that is featured in the novel
• Purpose: Audio Elements such as the
songs on the bottom right generate &
affect individual’s emotions.
• The powerful descriptive words
illustrate how women like Daisy &
Myrtle should not be chastised for
everything they do & deserve to be
treated as equals.

16. Now You Try!
• Once again, in groups of 3 – 4 students, answer the following
questions on the same Google Docs:
• Listen to the “You Don’t Own Me” song by Lesly Gore. List three lyrics
from the song that connect to the theme of the mistreatment of women
from The Great Gatsby.
• What inferences can be made from analyzing the lyrics?
• In your own words, explain how song lyrics & other forms of Audio Elements
contribute to the importance of themes in literary novels.
(Progress Monitoring Question: Understanding)

17. Textual Elements
• Include poems, articles, quotes, passages from
literary novels, etc.
• Purpose: To recognize how an author’s or writer’s
message is highlighted in other creative works.
• Textual Elements emphasize how an idea or theme
can be explained in other forms of writing

18. Example of Textual Elements in
The Great Gatsby
• Textual Elements such as poems & quotes further
emphasize the theme of the mistreatment of
women from The Great Gatsby
• Purpose: Textual Elements such as the poem &
quote on the right maintain the concept of how
women like Daisy & Myrtle are constantly
mistreated. As a result, they become someone
unrecognizable.

19. Now You Try!
• To conclude the lecture, let’s do one last
group activity!
• In groups of 3 – 4 students, analyze the
following quote & poem, then answer
the following questions on your Google
Docs:
• What inferences can be made about
the poem by Mark Anthony & the
quote by Helen Keller?
• List two (2) themes/concepts that
can be expressed in both
form of writing?
(Progress Monitoring Question: Understanding)

20. Now You Try!
*Culminating Analysis of Themes Activity!*
• Using the “Elements of Digital Media Organizer” that was
displayed earlier in the lecture, create an analysis of the theme:
“Lies & Deceit” from The Great Gatsby.
• In the novel, only a few characters are honest. Therefore, it is difficult to
determine who is telling the truth & which characters the audience can
trust .
• Download the Organizer from our D.U.R. Website & fill in the
squares with several examples, explain the purpose of each
source of digital media, & explain why you included it in your
organizer!
(Culminating Activity)