Theme.
Definition: Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly.
To figure out the theme of a selection the reader first must understand the plot, characterization and conflict, the imagery, and the author's tone. First identify the subject or topic in one word, then explain in one or two sentences what the author says about the subject. These sentences will contain the theme of the work.
To help you identify the theme ask yourself the following questions:
To figure out the theme of a selection the reader first must understand the plot, characterization and conflict, the imagery, and the author's tone. First identify the subject or topic in one word, then explain in one or two sentences what the author says about the subject. These sentences will contain the theme of the work.
To help you identify the theme ask yourself the following questions:
- How has the main character changed?
- What lessons has he or she learned?
- What is the central conflict in the work?
- What is the subject of the work?
- What does the author say about the subject?
- Can this idea be supported entirely by evidence from the work itself?
- Are all the author's choices of plot, character, conflict and tone controlled by this idea?
Lesson 1:
Read the following poem:
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.
-Tupac Shakur
Use the following chart to determine the theme of the poem.
Read the following poem:
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.
-Tupac Shakur
Use the following chart to determine the theme of the poem.
Lesson 2:
Read the following poem:
MASKS (Every Thing On It)
She had blue skin.
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by--
And never knew.
-Shel Silverstein
Read the following poem:
MASKS (Every Thing On It)
She had blue skin.
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by--
And never knew.
-Shel Silverstein
Use the following chart to determine the theme of the poem.