The document discusses what a theme is and how to analyze it in a story. It explains that a theme is not directly stated but rather is the underlying meaning or central insight about life that a reader extracts from the characters, events, and setting of the story. It provides guidance on identifying themes, such as looking at titles, patterns, symbols and details in the story that support a theme without being too broad or narrow. The key is finding a theme that makes sense of the story elements and can be supported by evidence from the text.
This presentation shows readers how to find the theme of a text. For a study guide for students, and stories and activities for finding themes, purchase my Teaching About Theme unit on TeachersPayTeachers:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teaching-About-Theme-342213
This presentation shows readers how to find the theme of a text. For a study guide for students, and stories and activities for finding themes, purchase my Teaching About Theme unit on TeachersPayTeachers:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teaching-About-Theme-342213
Explaining how to create an effective Narrative Piece...
Included with animations and attractive photos...
perfect for Grade 6 and upwards...
Also includes Homework at the end of PPT...
Teach students how to identify an author's purpose with this interactive presentation. Designed specifically for intermediate and middle school students.
Explaining how to create an effective Narrative Piece...
Included with animations and attractive photos...
perfect for Grade 6 and upwards...
Also includes Homework at the end of PPT...
Teach students how to identify an author's purpose with this interactive presentation. Designed specifically for intermediate and middle school students.
riting About LiteratureGenerally, the essays you write in lite.docxjoellemurphey
riting About Literature
Generally, the essays you write in literature courses attempt to answer interesting questions about works of literature. These questions are interesting for at least two reasons: a) their answers are not obvious, and b) their answers (or at least the attempt to answer them) can enrich other readers’ understanding and experience of those works of literature. Often works of literature seem to be intentionally posing these questions to us; they require us to do some work to get them to work.
Readers have asked many different types of questions of works of literature, for example:
· What did the author want to communicate in this work?
· What does the work reveal about the author’s feelings, opinions, or psychology?
· What does the work reveal about the society in which it was written?
· What can we learn from this work about the issues or topics it deals with?
· What motivates the characters in the work to behave as they do?
· How are literary devices used in the work?
· How does the work create emotional or intellectual experiences for its readers?
· Is this work good or bad?
· Is this work good or bad for its readers?
Some of these questions require information from outside the text itself; for example, to argue that a work reveals a writer’s psychological condition, it would be helpful to have some other evidence of that condition to corroborate your interpretation of the work of literature. Some of these questions ask about the world outside the work—about the author, his/her society, or our own society, for example—while others try to focus more on the features of the work itself. Analyses which try to make statements about the work itself is often calledformalist criticism: it attends more to the structures and strategies employed in the work. Ultimately, such arguments generally do try to move beyond the work, to claim, for instance, that it is likely to create certain effects in its readers, or that readers will understand the writer’s intent more clearly if they pay attention to its formal characteristic.
In LIT 100, we are going to be paying attention primarily to these formal features of literary works. In fiction, some of these features include tone, point of view, setting, character, etc. We will be paying less attention to extra-textual features, such as the author’s biography or the historical contexts in which the literature was produced and/or read; these elements are not less important than formal features, but they naturally vary greatly from one work to another and often require in-depth study to truly appreciate. To understand how Shakespeare’s social situation in London in the 1590s might have been reflected in his plays would require a whole course in Elizabethan history. On the other hand, the formal features we will be studying in this course can be found in literature of all eras and genres, though they may often be used to different effect by different writers at different times. A ...
How to quickly catch the main idea of topicChloe Cheney
It takes years of practice to master a skill as crucial as quickly catching the main idea of a topic, article, or book. But, don’t be disheartened!
We have carefully crafted a list of techniques to make it easier for you to quickly grasp the main idea of a story or anything!
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
2. What exactly is this elusive thingWhat exactly is this elusive thing
called theme?called theme?
• The theme of a fable is its moral.The theme of a fable is its moral.
• The theme of a parable is itsThe theme of a parable is its
teaching.teaching.
• The theme of a novel likeThe theme of a novel like CocktailCocktail
Hour under the Tree of ForgetfulnessHour under the Tree of Forgetfulness
is the view it presents about life.is the view it presents about life.
3. You DecideYou Decide
The theme is not intended to teach orThe theme is not intended to teach or
preach. In fact, it is not presented directlypreach. In fact, it is not presented directly
at all. You extract it from the characters,at all. You extract it from the characters,
action, and setting that make up the story.action, and setting that make up the story.
In other words, you must figure out theIn other words, you must figure out the
theme yourself.theme yourself.
4. Theme is your connectionTheme is your connection
The Writer's task is to communicate on a commonThe Writer's task is to communicate on a common
ground with the Reader.ground with the Reader.
As the Reader you find that common groundAs the Reader you find that common ground
through seeing similarities between your life andthrough seeing similarities between your life and
the story. Although the particulars of yourthe story. Although the particulars of your
experience may be different from the details ofexperience may be different from the details of
the story, the general underlying truths behindthe story, the general underlying truths behind
the story may be just the connection that boththe story may be just the connection that both
you and the writer are seeking.you and the writer are seeking.
5. There are many ways to view theThere are many ways to view the
themetheme
• The theme is the controlling idea orThe theme is the controlling idea or
central insight.central insight.
• It is the author's underlying meaning orIt is the author's underlying meaning or
main idea that he is trying to convey.main idea that he is trying to convey.
• The theme may be the author's thoughtsThe theme may be the author's thoughts
about a topic or view of human nature.about a topic or view of human nature.
• The theme may be a universal truthThe theme may be a universal truth
embedded in the story.embedded in the story.
6. What theme is NOTWhat theme is NOT
Theme is not the topic of the story.Theme is not the topic of the story.
Love, death, revenge, and war are notLove, death, revenge, and war are not
literary themes. They are topics writers tellliterary themes. They are topics writers tell
stories about.stories about.
7. However…However…
……thethe pointpoint that a story makes about one ofthat a story makes about one of
these topics can be a theme.these topics can be a theme.
Theme is the main point of a story, theTheme is the main point of a story, the
central meaning the story conveys to us.central meaning the story conveys to us.
8. Here are a few things to keep in mindHere are a few things to keep in mind
about theme:about theme:
• While a topic can be expressed in a word or phrase, a theme needs aWhile a topic can be expressed in a word or phrase, a theme needs a
whole sentence to make its point.whole sentence to make its point.
• All of the details in the story should point to and support this theme. If theyAll of the details in the story should point to and support this theme. If they
don't, then it is likely that you are substituting your personal view on thedon't, then it is likely that you are substituting your personal view on the
topic for the author's.topic for the author's.
• A theme is a larger idea expressed through a story, and so your statementA theme is a larger idea expressed through a story, and so your statement
of theme should not center on the characters but on theof theme should not center on the characters but on the ideaidea that they andthat they and
the story convey. Otherwise it ends up being a summary of the story ratherthe story convey. Otherwise it ends up being a summary of the story rather
than a statement of theme.than a statement of theme.
• Remember that the theme is an idea that is expressed through theRemember that the theme is an idea that is expressed through the
story but can be applied to the larger world.story but can be applied to the larger world.
• Complex stories can contain several themes.Complex stories can contain several themes.
9. Finding the ThemeFinding the Theme
Here are some ways to uncover the theme in a story:Here are some ways to uncover the theme in a story:
• Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme.Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme.
• Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you toNotice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you to
the theme.the theme.
• What allusions are made throughout the story?What allusions are made throughout the story?
• What are the details and particulars in the story? What greaterWhat are the details and particulars in the story? What greater
meaning may they have?meaning may they have?
• Remember that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helpingRemember that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helping
to inform and reflect back on each other. Also, be aware that a themeto inform and reflect back on each other. Also, be aware that a theme
we determine from a story never completely explains the story. It iswe determine from a story never completely explains the story. It is
simply one of the elements that make up the whole.simply one of the elements that make up the whole.
10. How do I know if I’m right?How do I know if I’m right?
Right does not really apply here.Right does not really apply here.
Keep in mind our focus on valid interpretations;Keep in mind our focus on valid interpretations;
your theme is a credible one if it can beyour theme is a credible one if it can be
supported by evidence from the textsupported by evidence from the text..
• The details of the story should make sense inThe details of the story should make sense in
terms of your theme; if you have to work tooterms of your theme; if you have to work too
hard to make them fit, then your theme ishard to make them fit, then your theme is
probably more your perspective than theprobably more your perspective than the
author's.author's.