Theme

Directly Stated Theme

A directly stated theme can literally be underlined in the text. There is NO guesswork. The author simple TELLS the reader the message he/she is suppose to understand.

Directly Stated Theme

A stated theme is DIRECTLY EXPRESSED in a story. It can be underlined. Fables are often good examples of stated theme.

Theme

An idea, message, lesson, teaching, or moral a writer wishes to express.

Indirectly Stated Theme

An indirectly stated theme is not directly expressed in a story.

Ways to find Theme

Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme.

Ways to find Theme

How are characters changing and growing? What lessons are they learning?

Ways to find Theme

Notice repeating patterns and symbols. What is repeatedly repeated? Sometimes these lead you to the theme.

Theme

The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life, society, and how people behave (human nature).

Ways to find Theme

What are the conflicts in the story? How are they resolved?

Indirectly Stated Theme

When it is indirectly stated, the author asks the reader to make inferences or use clues to determine the moral of the story.