finding theme
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​Theme
  • Theme is the message that the author wants to show/tell readers.   
  • It is NOT just one word.   
  • Themes are implied, so you must infer, or make conclusions to figure it out.
  • Themes are bigger than the story; they apply to the real world.​


​lessons

Strong readers analyze theme by paying close attention to the ending of a story.
You can often find the theme if you ask yourself the following questions:
  • What is an important idea/issue that comes up in the story/novel?   
  • What does the author believe about that idea?  


Other Strategies for Finding Theme:  
Take a close look at the following:   
  • What the protagonist and/or reader is learning/realizing  (“Aha Moment” Signpost)
  • The ideas that are repeated throughout the book  (“Again and Again”(A&A) Signpost)
  • Advice given by trusted, wiser characters (“Word of the Wiser”(WW) Signpost)
  • How and why the protagonist might be changing
  • The conflict in the novel & how it is resolved (notice pivotal moments that help us understand how the conflict is resolved  (ex: Breaking Bad finale- Walter killing drug lords (and himself) in order to save Jesse (ties into theme of self-sacrifice, good vs. evil, love, complicated nature of people)   
  • The consequences of a character’s action (whether good or bad)


Helpful Sentence Starter:
  •  “The theme of ______________ is ________________.  The author show/develops this theme by ________________________.”
  • “One possible theme that might be developing is _________.”  The author reveals this by _________
  • “One of the themes that the author is trying to communicate is ___________.  This is because _____" 


Strong readers track important themes in texts by identifying specific moments that reveal them.
First, think of some common issues/ideas that come up in the story.  Here is a chart of common issues/ideas in literature:  


​After you have identified some issues/ideas, sometimes it is helpful to create a theme chart (examples below).  
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BLANK THEME CHART
EXAMPLE OF THEME CHART (FOR "THE HARMONICA")