This document provides guidance to students on exploring and writing an essay about themes in literature. It defines theme as the main message or meaning of a work. Students are invited to analyze themes across 3 or more pieces of literature and use the works as historical or sociological artifacts to understand the cultures that produced them. The document discusses how themes can provide meaning for writers, readers, and entire cultures. It offers examples of common themes and cautions that there may be multiple themes or meanings in a single work. Students are encouraged to identify themes through evidence like quotes and to consider themes as arguments they must assert through their writing.

1. Theme
Theme - ENGL 151L 1

2. Prep for Essay #4
In this essay, student writers are invited to use
three or more pieces of literature to explore a
theme that has meaning to them. Use the pieces
as an archeologist or sociologist would to
answer questions about the people and society
that created them. A 4th piece can be added
from outside the course (films & TV included),
but do ask first.
Theme - ENGL 151L 2

3. Theme is . . .
The main message. The meaning.
The moral. The lesson. The light the
author tries to give us.
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4. For the writer Theme is
• A goal that drives their writing
– People really are basically good/evil/afraid/brave/lonely
. . . let me show that
• Meaning discovered as they write
– I lived/survived/felt/believed/dreamed this. What does
it all mean?
• Meaning shaped for the writer’s pleasure & peace
– This all means something. Things don’t just happen to
me; I create out of it.
• Wisdom passed on to society and the future
– Other people might need what I have learned.
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5. For the reader Theme can be
• Meaning received
– Someone (else) lived/survived/felt/dreamed this. Let me
see what it meant to them.
• Meaning updated - “a long time ago in a galaxy far
away” – These characters from another time or place relate
to me now us now.
• Imagination expanded
– These people (or creatures) are so different from me but
the same issues come up for them.
• Change ignited
– I don’t really want to think about ____, but this story is
making me think about it in new ways.
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6. For a culture Theme is
• A nurturing message
– Never give up - Sure Thing, Mother to Son, Shawshank Redemption, the Rocky franchise,
WALL.E, Forrest Gump, Dunkirk
– Overcome obstacles - Raymond’s Run, Battle Royal, Good Will Hunting, Whale Rider,
Rudy, Ratatouille, Hamilton
– Know/accept yourself - Sugarcane, The Mask, OCD, The Correct Spelling of Father, Phase,
Everyday Use, Battle Royal, Little Miss Sunshine, Brave, Mean Girls
– Life is good, appreciate the little things - Joyus Valadorus, The Crickets Have Arthritis
• A warning
– You can’t/can escape fate - Appointment in Samarra, Fences(?) Predestination, Looper,
Groundhog Day, The Zoo Keeper’s Wife, Oedipus
– Technology/govt/____ is dangerous - The Road?, London, Black Mirror, I Robot, 1984,
– Don’t forget your roots - Everyday Use, Queen Sugar, need more here 10pts
• A repository of values
– Oppose Racism - Fences, Theme for English B, To Kill a Mockingbird, many slam poets
– Don’t pre-judge people - Cathedral, When Love Arrives
– Family First! - Raymond’s Run, Everyday Use, Ghost Ship, Finding Nemo, Game of Thrones
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7. A few cautions about Theme
• Usually there is no single correct statement of
theme though there can be incorrect ones.
• Some pieces bring forward two or more
themes, depending how they’re read and
interpreted.
• Meaning is mysterious: It’s what you take from
the piece. The author may not even have
intended that.
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8. Assert yourself
Writing about theme is a type of argument. I see it this
way, and here is my evidence. Types of evidence:
1. Direct quotes followed by an explanation of how the
quote in your opinion shows the theme.
2. Paraphrases followed by explanation.
3. Biographical evidence – Facts about the author’s life
that may support your argument.
4. Expert sources – Critics & experts in literature that
agree with your interpretation of the theme.
5. Your reaction narrated – Tell how you experienced the
piece’s theme. This is valid and interesting.
Theme - ENGL 151L 8

9. Find quality sources
and earn more points – up to 25
All sources used in academic essays must be by named
authors published in books, journals, magazines or
established web sites. Places like Schmoop, Cliff Notes
and Wikipedia are good to get ideas and stimulate
thinking. Dig deeper and find the named sources.
The NCC library created this module to help. Proquest
Central is a good database to start with. If you have not
used databases much, try this tutorial. Knowing your way
around databases is a valuable skill needed in many
fields. Something to add to your resume!
Theme - ENGL 151L 9

10. Theme is not topic
The topic of a story can be named in a word or two. The
theme is what the author says or implies ABOUT that
topic. Theme is the gem of wisdom.
Theme - ENGL 151L
Topic – what is the piece about? An example theme for that topic – What meaning do
we take away?
The past You have to face your past before you can achieve your
destiny (The Lion King)
Cooperation When we work together we can’t be stopped (A Bug’s
Life)
Journey It’s not the destination but the journey that counts
(Cars)
Love Love conquers all (many examples)
10

11. “All you have to do is kill me, like they said you would.”
The theme of Minority Report surfaces at the film’s
climax. After watching the ending, try putting the theme
into your own words before moving to the next slide.
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12. So what is the Theme?
“You know your own future, which means you can change it if
you want to. You still have a choice. Like I did.”
“Yes, I have a choice. And I make it.”
Aha – This is a familiar theme that shows up a lot
in science fiction: We do have free will
Help update this presentation. Minority Report came out in 2002. I
like to use it because I know the screenwriter, John Cohen. But,
it’d be nice to have a more recent film. For 10 bonus points and my
thanks, email in a clip from a film you know well. Choose a scene
that expresses the theme, and put that theme in your own words.
Please paste in these instructions.
Theme - ENGL 151L 12

13. Symbols reveal theme
A symbol is an object, action, or even a sound
that runs through a piece. It helps build and
reinforce the theme so the reader feels it. The
reader feels it more because symbols carry
weight and meaning. That is, they may be a
physical thing, like a window or a quilt, but they
also come to stand for—to give the feeling of—
an abstract concept such as freedom, loyalty,
courage, love etc.
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14. A sound that runs through a story and
carries meaning is known as a motif.
Theme - ENGL 151L
Click on the picture to hear the Oh no
watch out be scared shark coming music
from Jaws. Seems like even the actor can
hear it!
14

15. Only so many themes
Some might disagree, but one source for screen writers, The Script Lab, classifies
all of life’s complexity into ten major themes:
1. good vs. evil
2. love conquers all
3. triumph over adversity
4. individual vs society
5. individual vs nature
6. individual vs him/herself (addictions for example)
7. death as a part of life
8. loss of innocence
9. revenge
10. the battle
In the forum we’ll interrogate that list.
 Do you agree with it? Are there themes you would add?
 Which themes on that list are most important to your generation?
 What is your favorite theme? What are 2 examples of that theme?
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16. Wisdom clips
You might enjoy this compilation. Viewing it,
one gets the impression that film and story exist
in order to hand on meaning and wisdom.
Reel Wisdom - Lessons from 40 films
in 7 minutes
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17. Questions about Theme to help
generate ideas for Essay #4
 What theme do I want to write about? Which piece seems most
interested in that theme?
 Is my theme on the list of 10 major themes on slide 15? If not, can I make
my essay more interesting and deep by arguing that my theme IS a major
theme?
 In each piece, do certain symbols or symbolic acts stand out? What
meaning(s) do they carry for characters; for me?
 If two pieces have a similar theme, are there differences, variations I can
explain? Would the authors agree if they met?
 Does a character express the theme in any place (the climax perhaps or a
moment of conflict)?
 Can I find a piece that disagrees with the other two on the theme, or
with a major theme?
 Is there a movie, novel, TV series or other piece I know well that I can
bring in as a 4th piece for the up to 25 Bonus Points?
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18. Much meaning in the nutshell of a great piece of art
Thanks for thinking
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