This document provides guidance on identifying the theme of a story using the Pixar film Finding Nemo as an example. It explains that the theme is the overall message or idea that an author wants to convey. To identify a theme, one must first determine the big idea or topic of the story, then make inferences about what the author is saying about that topic. For Finding Nemo, the big idea is determined to be "trust." After analyzing key events in the film, the identified theme is: "Sometimes you have to let go and trust in your friends and family." The document then models using the same process to identify the theme of another story.

1. THE MESSAGE
Using Finding Nemo wto learn about theme

2. • Theme is the message the
author is trying to relate
to the reader.
WHAT
IS
THEME?

3. • Part of your job as a reader is to
understand what the author is trying to
say.
• Writers seldom come out and tell you
“Hey, Reader! THIS is what I want you to
GET from my writing.”
• You as a reader, must make inferences
and draw conclusions about what the
author is trying to express.
THE READER’S
JOB

4. HOW DO WE FIND
THE THEME?
First we must find the
TOPIC of the story.
• What is the BIG IDEA?
– Love
– Friendship
– Good vs evil
– Trust
– Perseverance
– Equality
– …
Next we INFER as to what the
author is saying about the topic.
• This is a complete sentence.
– True Love concurs all.
– Friendship requires sacrifice.
– Crime doesn’t pay.
– Sometimes we have to let go and
trust that it will all work out for
the best.
– With perseverance, any obstacle
can be overcome.
– We all have value regardless of our
race, economic status, or ability.

5. WHAT IS THE THEME OF
FINDING NEMO?
First, we need to identify
the BIG IDEA.
• To do this we
need to
Sumerize the
story.
• Sombody-wanted-but-
so-then.
• We did that yesterday.

6. MARLIN WANTED TO PROTECT HIS SON, NEMO, BUT NEMO
DISOBEYED HIS DAD AND GOT CAUGHT. SO MARLIN FOUND A
FRIEND AND OVERCAME MANY OBSTACLES TO FIND NEMO.
THEN MARLIN FOUND NEMO AND TRUSTED HIS SON.
What was the Big IDEA?
• Love?
• Friendship?
• Trust?
• Perseverance?
• Independence?
• All really good ones. Lets go with
trust.

7. HOW IS TRUST A BIG IDEA
IN FINDING NEMO?
It is Marlin’s not trusting in his son,
that leads to the adventure.

8. HOW IS TRUST A BIG IDEA
IN FINDING NEMO?
• Marlin learns to trust others
throughout his journey.
– The moon fish who give
directions
– Crush the turtle who who
gives parenting advice
– The pelican that takes him to
the dentist

9. HOW IS TRUST A BIG IDEA
IN FINDING NEMO?
• and especially Dory
– Throughout the movie, Marlin
has difficulty trusting the loyal
if not forgetful blue fish. It is
not until in the mouth of a
wale that he finally agrees to
take a leap of faith and let go.
– Marlin demonstrates this new
skill when he lets Nemo assist
Dory in escaping the fish net.

10. • The theme is:
–Sometimes you
have to let go
and trust in
your friends
and family.
IF THE BIG IDEA IS TRUST,
WHAT IS THE THE MESSAGE
OF THE MOVIE?

11. LETS TRY ONE
TOGETHER.
Using What’s the BIG IDEA, lets find a
different THEME for Finding Nemo.

12. NOW THAT YOU
UNDERSTAND THEME,
LETS FIND THE THEME
OF RAYMOND’S RUN.
Hand out a blank What’s the big idea.