Theme

Words/thoughts

Details about the characters that support themes.

recurring themes

Related themes shared in many works of art and literature that apply to a particular time or place.

theme

The message or lesson about life that a writer wants to communicate - usually a complete sentence.

topic

What a work is about - usually only one or two words.

Theme Question

What big message about life is the writer trying to tell me?

Details/events/characters

A theme is based on these factors in a text.

Make connections

Step four to inferring a theme.

Examine the title

Step one to inferring a theme.

Analyze the characters

Step three to inferring a theme.

Consider the plot and conflict

Step two to inferring a theme.

universal themes

Themes that appear again and again in literature, art, and media of different time periods and cultures.

support

Things the characters say or ways in which they change that may help a reader determine a passage's theme.

infer

To use details from the text and your knowledge about life to figure out the message.