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Theme is the central idea or ideas presented in a story. It is the deeper message that lets readers connect the story to their own lives.  Watch the following video on theme.

To find a theme, ask yourself:

  • Why did the author choose to write this story?

  • What insight or experience did the story offer me?

Here are some common themes in literature. Perhaps you can think of stories that have one of these themes.

  • People can do extraordinary things when faced with difficult challenges.
  • Good fortune is seldom recognized until it is lost.
  • Solving problems sometimes requires compromise.
  • Hard work and dedication are recipes for success.
  • Friendships are sometimes tested by tough lessons and circumstances.
  • People can be changed by the smallest of events.
  • Society's expectations sometimes make us behave in ways we don't want to.

Stories or books that have different settings, characters, and plots can have the same theme. You will be writing a story on the topic of bravery as discussed throughout this unit.

In your assignment for this lesson, you will write down ideas for the theme of your story. Here are a few tips that may help.

  • Ask “so what?” about the events in your story. The answer may be your theme.

  • What do you want readers to learn from your story? The answer may be your theme.

  • Consider how your story makes you feel. This could be a clue to the theme.

  • Try to make your theme specific. “When people are brave they are true to themselves” is more specific than simply saying the theme is “bravery.”

  • The theme may be introduced at the beginning of the story but often does not emerge until later, sometimes until the very end.

Open your writer's notebook and complete 1.5 Theme.

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