THEME

The central (most important) idea of a work of literature.

The idea the author wants to express about a subject.

It is an opinion statement.

What is theme?

It is not the same thing as a subject. Subject, or topic, can be stated in one word or up to a few words. It is an overview of the story, the gist.

SUBJECT

A poor, mistreated girl marries a prince. or

Good vs. Bad

What is the subject of Cinderella?

A spider helps a pig.

or

Friendship

What is the subject of Charlotte’s Web?

A wizard boy’s struggles to defeat an evil wizard.

orGood vs. Evil

What is the subject of the Harry Potter series?

While the moral and the theme can be related, they are not the same. A moral is a lesson to be learned stated as an imperative. It is a behavior or attitude the author wants the reader to adopt.

MORAL

Always do you best.Don’t judge a book by its cover.Don’t assume you will win without effort.

What is the moral of The Tortoise and the Hare?

Don’t take the easy way out of your responsibilities

Plan ahead and work hard.

What is the moral of The Three Little Pigs?

So then, what is theme?

Cinderella

Subject/Topic Moral Theme

A poor girl marries a prince.

Be kind.Be a good person.Keep dreaming.

Good things happen to good people.

Good overcomes evil.

With determination, all things are possible.

The Three Little Pigs

Subject/Topic Moral Theme

Three pigs make their houses out of different materials.

Hard work vs. laziness

Don’t take the easy way out of your responsibilities

Plan ahead and work hard.

Hard work pays off in the end.

Laziness has serious consequences.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Subject/Topic Moral Theme

Competition

A tortoise and a hare compete in a race.

Always do your best.

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Don’t assume you will win without effort.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Even if it seems that you are not the quickest or best at a particular task, that may not be the case.

It is usually not directly stated in the literary work. The reader must draw the conclusion of what the theme is through:

1. The actions and events of the story.2. The thoughts and conversations of the

characters.3. The feelings of the characters AND how the

author makes the reader feel.4. Ask yourself…. “What does the main character

learn in the course of the story?”

How to find the theme