How to Find the Theme

AN IDEA ABOUT LIFE…

 1. The Theme is not the subject
The subject is just the topic (which can be stated in
a single word, such as love).

The theme is the lesson about the subject. A theme

should be expressed in a statement.
2. Think about how the Protagonist changes

Does the main character change?

Does the main character realize something that he

did not know before?

Example
 How does Ebenezer Scrooge change in A Christmas Carol?
 3. How is the conflict resolved?

The way a conflict is resolved often gives hints or

clues about the theme.

Example
 How is the conflict resolved in The Tortoise and the Hare?
 4.Think about the Title
Is there a clue in the title of the story?

Example:
 What is a possible theme in The Boy Who Cried Wolf?
 5. Test your statement of the theme
Does your statement of the theme apply to the
whole work and not just one part of it?
 6. Remember that there are different
ways to state a theme.
Different people often express the same theme in
different words.

People might have different opinions about the

main theme.

The best literary works often have more than one

theme.