How to Identify a Theme in Four steps

the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject—the writer’s view of the world or a revelation about human nature. To identify the theme, be sure that you’ve first identified the story’s plot, the way the story uses characterization, and the primary conflict in the story.

1. The Four Steps TO Identify A Theme.
2. Step 4: Make a Generalization.
3. Step 1: Understand the MAin Character.
4. Things to know beforehand:
5. Step 2: Identify the conflict.
6. Step 3: Know How the Conflict is Resolved.

5 Steps for Teaching Theme

1. Establish what theme is NOT, in addition to what it is. This is tough, as my students think they know what theme is and clearly don’t.
2. S: Stands for subject or topic.
3. L: Stands for lesson.
4. IM: Stand for idea or message.
5. E: Stands for evidence.

Theme is the overall message that you want readers to take away from your story. It’s an expression of how you feel about a certain topic like life, love, death, friendship, identity, self-confidence, etc.

Here are the five critical thinking questions that teachers should use in preparing students to identify theme at any grade level:

• What are the key ideas or details?
• What is the central message? Cite evidence to prove it.
• What is the theme?
• What is the topic?
• Where does the author prove the intended message?

Six common themes in literature are:

• Good vs. evil.
• Love.
• Redemption.
• Courage and perseverance.
• Coming of age.
• Revenge.

What Is a Theme in Movies? A theme is the film’s central, unifying concept. A theme evokes a universal human experience and can be stated in one word or short phrase (for example, “love,” “death,” or “coming of age”).

Every movie has a theme, whether intentional or not. Every story is imprinted with the morals and worldview of its creators. How the characters are treated by the films world and how their actions are rewarded or punished necessarily creates a system of meaning.

It’s not a debate for me; in fact, it’s a bit of a pet peeve when my students want to use one word to describe a theme. That’s because for me the answer is clear: Themes is always a statement.

Let’s make this easy: Theme is a general principle. Message is a specific example of that theme in action. Message, on the other hand, is found in the specific story situations that illustrate the thematic principles. Your message is your story’s theme in action.

The moral of a story is supposed to teach you how to be a better person. If moral is used as an adjective, it means good, or ethical. If you have a strong moral character, you are a good member of society. If someone is a cheat and a liar, you might say, “She is not a moral person.”