Name: _________________________________ Period: _____ Date: ________________________

Central Ideas & Themes

After you finish reading a short story, novel, poem, etc., you always want to ask yourself the following question:
So what? Why did the author write this? What does he/she want me to know? In other words, what theme is the
author trying to convey?
A theme is the underlying meaning of the story, a universal truth, a significant statement the story is making
about society, human nature, or the human condition. A theme must be clearly stated in a sentence; one word is not
enough.

For example, to say that a storys theme is "friendship" is ambiguous (unclear). It may mean "Friends are a person's most
valuable possession." It may also mean, "Friends can never be trusted if their own interests are opposed to yours."

Friendship is a central idea that is developed in the text, but it is not a theme.

Central Ideas = Emerging Themes: Although a theme may not be fully developed until
the end of a story, you should be able to determine possible emerging themes early in
the text. Basically, what central ideas is the work exploring? Once you determine
emerging themes, you should track their development throughout the course of the work.
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Directions: Consider the poem you have just read.
1. What central ideas is the author exploring in the poem? Choose one central idea to
focus on.
2. Next, determine what the author is trying to say about this central idea and write a
statement; this is your theme.
3. Pull specific evidence from the text to support the theme. Crocus flower bulbs signal spring; the time of year when plants
are coming back to life. Analogy: An emerging theme (central
idea) is like an emerging crocus; it doesnt become a theme
until the flower is in full bloom.

HOW TO WRITE A LITERARY THEME

Understand the difference between theme and plot.

Example:
Theme Discussion: Sympathy is a poem about

Do NOT finish this sentence with a plot summary. When discussing a theme in this
poem, it is not correct to say, Sympathy is a poem about a bird that is trapped in a
cage, but longs to be out in the natural environment." This is an accurate summary of
the plot, but it does not convey a theme.

Practice on the reverse side.

STEP #1: Begin by creating a list of central ideas that are explored in the poem.

Central Ideas:

STEP #2: To write a theme for the poem, take one of the central ideas listed above, consider what the author is saying
about this central idea, and make it into a statement.

Theme Formula: Central Idea + Author Commentary = Theme

While a poem or short story will often develop one major theme, a novel, which often has several plot lines, may
develop several major themes.

A literary theme should have the following qualities:

It must be a complete declarative sentence, not just a word or phrase.
It must be supported with evidence from throughout the text.
It should not preach or give advice. It avoids using the words should, and ought.
It does not directly address the audience. It avoids using the word you.
It avoids ambiguity.

Theme: ________________________________________________________________
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STEP #3: Support the literary theme with specific evidence from the text: Here is where plot comes in. Use specific
events from the plot to support the theme. *Note: When pulling evidence, consider beginning with the summary of the
scene, a paraphrase of an important passage, and a poignant quote from the passage that exemplifies and/or
amplifies what is being said.

Practice on the reverse side.