2. The “moral of the story” is a good way to begin understanding the concept of theme. For example, “slow and steady wins the race”is a theme in Aesop’s fable The Hare and the Tortoise. Most works of fiction teach us lessons. 2
3. In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. It is extracted from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, we must figure out the theme ourselves. 3
4. We might learn, or be reminded, for example, that it is important to take risks, or that wealth doesn’t bring happiness, or that a little bit of persistence can change a bad situation. Not all events teach lessons, but the ones that do often make good stories. 4
5. Think about it: which would you learn better from: A preachy text telling you to respect your elders OR A story in which a teenager learns the hard way to respect his elders? 5
6. The writer's task is to communicate on a common ground with the reader. Although the particulars of our experiences may be different from the details of the story, the general underlying truths behind the story are just the connection that both we and the writer are seeking. 6
