This document defines themes, discusses how they differ from plots and topics, and provides guidance on identifying themes in stories. The key points are: - A theme is the central idea or message about life that an author conveys through a work of fiction. It transfers from the story to the real world. - Themes are not stated directly but must be inferred from details and events. Multiple themes may exist in a single story. - While a plot summarizes events, a theme expresses a deeper insight about people or life that the story illustrates. A topic is the subject matter, but a theme makes a statement about that topic.

1. Theme: the heart of a story
By: Ms. Taliaferro

2. Definition
• A theme is the message that a reader
takes away from a story. It’s what the
writer is trying to say about life.
• It is an idea about people or life.
• There are often several themes in a
single story.

3. More about themes
• For example, one theme in The Three
Little Pigs might be “A person who
prepares for the worst is rarely caught
off guard.”
• What might be another theme
from this story?

4. Transfers
• A theme transfers from the piece of
writing to our world.
• In other words, the message should
work in the writing AND in our world.
• So, it can’t be too specific.
• It’s not, “build a strong house in case a
wolf comes” because that doesn’t
transfer from the story to our world.

5. Theme vs. Plot
• Theme is what the
story means.
• It involves the
message of the
story.
• “This story showed
me that. . .”
• Plot is conflict or
problem in the
story.
• It involves the
major events in a
story.
• “This story is
about. . .”

6. Theme vs. Subject/Topic
• A theme is not the
same as a subject.
• A theme is the idea the
writer wishes to reveal
about a subject.
• A theme is usually
expressed in a full
sentence.
• “Most people can be
themselves around
their families” is a
theme.
• A subject is the topic a
writer is writing about.
• A subject is usually
expressed in a word or two:
love, childhood, death.
• “Families” is a subject.

7. How to find the theme
• A theme is usually not stated directly in
the work, unless it is a moral.
• Readers infer, make an educated guess
about, the theme by looking at all the
elements of the work to determine what
they all mean.

8. What’s the Theme?
• Think about Through the Tunnel. What
might be a theme the author is trying to
communicate?
This story shows me that . . .
• What evidence from the story supports
that theme?
Remember, stories can have multiple
themes.

9. What’s the Theme?
• Think about your summer reading novel.
What might be a theme the author is trying
to communicate?
This story shows me that . . .
• What evidence from the story supports
that theme?
Remember, stories can have multiple
themes.

10. Bibliography
• All information in this slide show was
taken from the sixth grade textbook:
Elements of Literature Introductory Course
– Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

11. What’s the Theme?
• Think about Woodsong. What might be a
theme the author is trying to communicate?
Hint: Remember the last two paragraphs.
This story shows me that . . .
• What evidence from the story supports
that theme?
Remember, stories can have multiple
themes.