The document discusses the difference between topic and theme. Topic refers to the subject matter of a story and can be summarized in one or two words, such as love or death. Theme refers to the overall message or life lesson the author aims to convey and requires a full sentence to articulate, for example "love can overcome any obstacle." To identify a work's theme, one should consider what the characters say, how they change, any recurring symbols, and whether the author directly states the theme.

1. THEMES
Life Lessons

2. Theme is NOT….
Topic
 Often confused for each other
because they are related.

3. Topic vs. Theme
Topic
 The subject that a story
is about
 Can be summed up in 1
or 2 words
 Examples:
 Love, Death, etc.,
Theme
 The Message or Life Lessons
the author wants the reader to
learn
 Takes a complete sentence to
state
 Examples:
 Love can overcome any
obstacle
 Death is not always scary

4. Topic or Theme?

5. Topic Theme
Forgiveness

6. Finding the Theme Does the author
directly state the
theme?
What do the
characters say?
Do the
characters
change or learn
anything?
Are there any
recurring symbols
or patterns of
events?
Questions
to ask
 Sometimes, the theme is
DIRECTLY STATED by the
author in the text.
 Otherwise you must
INFER the theme using
clues you find in the
text.

7. Example: The Swallow & the Crow
The Swallow and the Crow had an
argument one day about their plumage.
Said the Swallow: "Just look at my bright
and downy feathers. Your black stiff quills are
not worth having. Why don't you dress better?
Show a little pride!"
"Your feathers may do very well in spring," replied the Crow, "but—I don't
remember ever having seen you around in winter, and that's when I enjoy myself
most."
Friends in fine weather only, are not worth much.
- From Aesop’s Fables

8. The Swallow & the Crow… (continued)
 What is this story’s topic?
 Friendship
 What is this story’s theme?
 Friends in fine weather only, are not worth much.
 How did you identify the theme?
 The author directly states it in the text.
 Interpret this lesson in your own words.

9. The Road Less Traveled
Written and Read by Robert Frost
What is the theme?
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

10. The Road Not Taken...
 Possible themes:
 Some decisions are impossible to make
 One decision can change your life
 It is impossible to know what the future will bring.