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Theme: Whats the Big Idea

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Are these sayings familiar? They have been used (and overused) by writers for centuries. ... Nothing can stand in the way of true love. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Theme: Whats the Big Idea


1
Collection Three
Theme Whats the Big Idea?
2
Thesis and Theme
  • Both words have the prefix The
  • The has two meanings God or put down
  • Thesis put down a statement to argue
  • Theme subtlety put down a message

3
What Is Theme?
The theme is what the story is really about.
The theme reveals a basic truth about our lives
and human experience.
The writer rarely tells you the theme directly.
Usually, you have to discover the theme yourself.
4
What Is Theme?
Suppose you read a story about two friends.
Near the end of the story, one friend betrays the
other.
If the story is well written, we feel that
betrayal.
5
What Is Theme?
As we share the characters experiences,
we realize the story is about more than what
happens.
The story is really about the following
Betrayal can destroy the bond between friends.
This is the theme of the story.
6
Big Ideas
Themes focus on the big topics in everyones
life
7
Topic verses Theme
8
Big Ideas
Works by different writers can have similar
themes about the same big idea.
In The Smallest Dragonboy, Keevan is ridiculed
by other boys because he is smaller. However, he
is the one chosen by the prized bronze dragon
because of his courage and determination.
9
Big Ideas and Themes
Works by different writers can have similar big
ideas which can lead to the same themes
In King Arthur The Sword in the Stone, a young
adopted boy proves himself worthy to be the
rightful king of England. He passes a physical
test that many grown men have attempted but
failed.
What theme could these stories have in common?
10
Topic and Theme
  • In these two stories, the biggest and strongest
    characters do not win.
  • Common topics could be
  • courage and underdogs
  • Common themes could be
  • Size matters less than courage and strength of
  • character
  • Perseverance and patience lead to victory

Have you read other stories with a similar themes?
11
Themes
Themes occur over and over again because some
truths about human experience are universal.
All that glitters is not gold.
What goes up, must come down.
Time waits for no man.
Love conquers all.
Are these sayings familiar? They have been used
(and overused) by writers for centuries.
12
Warning, Warning Plot Isnt Theme
Plot is what events occur in the story. ( What
happens first, second, third,)
Theme is what a story is really aboutwhat the
story reveals about life.
13
Plot Isnt Theme
. . .and what the events mean.
You know what happened in the story . . .
But what does the story say about life?
EVENTS
MEANING
THEME
Keevan dragged himself to the Impression.
Keevan showed great courage and determination.
A persons character is what mattersnot his or
her size.
The bronze dragon chose Keevan.
The dragon recognized that Keevan was worthy.
14
Plot Isnt Theme
A theme can be stated in more than one way.
A persons character is what mattersnot size.
Courage and determination help you reach goals.
Stories can have more than one theme.
A persons character is what mattersnot size.
Failure and frustration can make a person a bully.
You might see all these themes in The Smallest
Dragonboyor an entirely different theme.
15
Where Does It Say That?
A writer doesnt usually state the theme
directly. You probably wouldnt want to read a
story that begins this way
This is a story that shows character matters
more than size.
Theme is what the writer wants you to discover
for yourself.
16
Where Does It Say That?
One way to discover theme is by analyzing the
characters in a story.
How does the main character change during the
story?
What does this change say about life or about
people in general?
17
Static and Dynamic Characters
  • Some characters never learn, they remain the same
    through out the story or even series of stories.
    They are called static Characters.
  • Other characters learn from mistakes. They do
    change during the course of the story. They are
    considered to be Dynamic !

18
Where Does It Say That?
Some ways to discover theme include looking at
the plot and the title of the story
Which passages in the plot seem to be most
important? What ideas about life do they suggest?
Look at the storys title. What hints does it
give you about the storys meaning?
19
Evaluating the Theme
Many teen romances follow the same plot two
people who are very different from each other
fall in love.
Is that really true?
These stories also share a similar theme
Nothing can stand in the way of true love.
20
Evaluating the Theme
You dont have to like the way a story ends.
Sometimes the hero dies?
Why didnt they get back together?
You dont have to agree with a theme, either.
Putting a theme into words brings it into the
open. You can then look at it closely and decide
if it fits with what you know about life.
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