Theme

Benchmark:

I can describe how an author's use of words create meaning and tone in a literary text.

Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.

In other words…

Theme is what the story teaches readers.

A theme is not a word, it is a sentence.

You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.

ExamplesMoney can’t buy happiness.Don’t judge people based on the surface. It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

What is the theme?Jenny Puchovier was so excited. She had a

pack of Starburst in her lunch and she had been looking forward to eating them all morning. Lunch finally came and Jenny sat down to eat her Starbursts when her friend Yudy sat next to her. “Let me get the pink ones,” asked Yudy. Jenny liked the pink ones best, but she thought Yudy was funny and Jenny wanted Yudy to like her, so Jenny gave Yudy all of her pink Starbursts. Before Jenny was done giving Yudy the pink ones, Carrie sat on the other side of Jenny. “Let me get the red and the orange ones, Jenny. Remember when I gave you that Snickers?” Jenny didn’t remember that, though she did remember when Carrie ate a whole Snickers in front of her, but Jenny thought Carrie was cool, so she gave her the red and the orange Starbursts. Now that she only had the yellow ones, Jenny wasn’t so excited about eating starbursts anymore.

Big World of the Theme.Applies to the “Real” World.

Identifying Themes

Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).

Themes are implied (through the story).

Themes are bigger than the story.

SmallWorldof theStory

Themes are about the big picture.Not “Yellow Starbursts taste bad”

Not “Yudy and Carrie are bad friends.”

Think BIGGER.

Find “Real” World advice.

Big World of the Theme.Applies to the “Real” World.

SmallWorldof theStory

Review1. Theme is what we can

learn from a story.

2. Themes must be inferred.

3. Themes are about the BIG world.

Once there was a mean little boy who lived in a small village. This mean little boy loved to mess with people, so one day he ran up to a sheep herder and shouted, “WOLF! WOLF! A wolf is attacking the town!” The sheep herder grabbed his staff and ran to defend the town, but realized he had been fooled when the boy started pointing and laughing at him. “Ha ha! I made you jump,” said the boy. Then the boy ran up to a farmer and shouted, “WOLF! WOLF! A wolf is attacking the town!” The farmer grabbed his pitchfork and ran to defend the town, but when the boy started pointing and laughing at him, he realized he had been tricked. As the boy went back to his family’s farm laughing about the funny trick he played, he saw a real wolf in his father’s chicken coop. As the wolf ate all of his father’s chickens, the boy screamed over and over again, “WOLF! WOLF! Please help us!” But nobody came to help him.

Word Choice

Word Choice

CartoonCartoon

““A good writer will sometimes search hours for just the right word.A good writer will sometimes search hours for just the right word.”” SnoopySnoopy

Word Choice •naturalnatural

•active, energetic active, energetic verbsverbs•precise, concrete nouns and precise, concrete nouns and

modifiers modifiers •simple language used simple language used well well

•paint paint pictures pictures

•new twists on everyday new twists on everyday wordswords

•minimal minimal redundancy redundancy

•accuracy of accuracy of expressionexpression

•creative combinations of words creative combinations of words

Word Choice

Key Question:Key Question:

Do the words and Do the words and phrases create vivid phrases create vivid pictures and linger in pictures and linger in

your mind?your mind?

Word Choice

““I do not choose the I do not choose the right word. right word.

I get rid of the wrong I get rid of the wrong one.one.””

A.E. HousemanA.E. Houseman

The Bus Stop

Each morning I ride the bus to school. I wait Each morning I ride the bus to school. I wait along with the other people who ride my bus. along with the other people who ride my bus. Sometimes the bus is late and we get angry. Sometimes the bus is late and we get angry. Some guys start fights and stuff just to have Some guys start fights and stuff just to have something to do. Isomething to do. I’’m always glad when the m always glad when the

bus finally comes.bus finally comes.

The Bus Stop (published)

A bus arrived. It discharged its A bus arrived. It discharged its passengers, closed its doors with a hiss passengers, closed its doors with a hiss and disappeared over the crest of a hill. and disappeared over the crest of a hill. Not one of the people waiting at the bus Not one of the people waiting at the bus

stop had attempted to board. One woman stop had attempted to board. One woman wore a sweater that was too small, a long wore a sweater that was too small, a long

skirt, white sweater socks, and house skirt, white sweater socks, and house slippers. One man was in his undershirt.slippers. One man was in his undershirt.

The Bus Stop (published)

Another man wore shoes with the toes cut Another man wore shoes with the toes cut out, a soiled blue serge jacket and brown out, a soiled blue serge jacket and brown pants. There was something wrong with pants. There was something wrong with

these people. They made faces. A mouth these people. They made faces. A mouth smiled at nothing and unsmiled, smiled smiled at nothing and unsmiled, smiled

and unsmiled. A head shook in vehement and unsmiled. A head shook in vehement denial. Most of them carried brown paper denial. Most of them carried brown paper bags rolled tight against their stomachs.bags rolled tight against their stomachs.

E.L. Doctrow, E.L. Doctrow, The Book of DanielThe Book of Daniel (New York: Random (New York: Random House, 1971), p. 15.House, 1971), p. 15.

Author's Tone

What is an

author's tone?

Tone indicates the writer's attitude.

Often an author's tone is described by adjectives, such as:cynical, depressed,

sympathetic, cheerful, outraged,

positive, angry, sarcastic, ironic,

solemn, vindictive, intense, excited.

Tone is not an action.Tone is not an action.

It is an It is an attitudeattitude..

Tone is not an action.Tone is not an action.

It is an It is an attitudeattitude..

Real-Life ExampleYou can say the same phrase in different You can say the same phrase in different ways, each showing a different attitude or ways, each showing a different attitude or

tone.tone.

You can say the same phrase in different You can say the same phrase in different ways, each showing a different attitude or ways, each showing a different attitude or

tone.tone.

Try saying, "Come here, Sally" using Try saying, "Come here, Sally" using the following tones:the following tones:

Try saying, "Come here, Sally" using Try saying, "Come here, Sally" using the following tones:the following tones:

• Commanding or bossy

• Secretive

• Loving

• Angry

• Excited

• Playful

Tone is not explained or Tone is not explained or expressed directly.expressed directly.

Tone is not explained or Tone is not explained or expressed directly.expressed directly.

A reader must A reader must "read between the "read between the

lines"lines" to feel the author's to feel the author's

attitude and identify attitude and identify the tone.the tone.

A reader must A reader must "read between the "read between the

lines"lines" to feel the author's to feel the author's

attitude and identify attitude and identify the tone.the tone.

Tone is different than Tone is different than "Mood.""Mood."

Tone is different than Tone is different than "Mood.""Mood."

Mood is the emotion the author Mood is the emotion the author wanted the wanted the readersreaders to feel while to feel while

reading about the subject.reading about the subject.

Mood is the emotion the author Mood is the emotion the author wanted the wanted the readersreaders to feel while to feel while

reading about the subject.reading about the subject.

Tone is the Tone is the author'sauthor's own attitude own attitude toward the subject.toward the subject.

Tone is the Tone is the author'sauthor's own attitude own attitude toward the subject.toward the subject.

An author's tone An author's tone influences the story's influences the story's

mood and atmosphere.mood and atmosphere.

An author's tone An author's tone influences the story's influences the story's

mood and atmosphere.mood and atmosphere.

Story's Story's Atmosphere & Atmosphere &

MoodMood

Story's Story's Atmosphere & Atmosphere &

MoodMoodAuthor's Author's

ToneToneAuthor's Author's

ToneTone

Leads

To

Example:

An author writes a horror story using a An author writes a horror story using a seriousserious and and sinistersinister tone. tone.

An author writes a horror story using a An author writes a horror story using a seriousserious and and sinistersinister tone. tone.

That tone helps create a That tone helps create a scaryscary atmosphere and a atmosphere and a nervousnervous, ,

frightenedfrightened mood for the readers. mood for the readers.

That tone helps create a That tone helps create a scaryscary atmosphere and a atmosphere and a nervousnervous, ,

frightenedfrightened mood for the readers. mood for the readers.

Literary Examples of Literary Examples of Author's Tones...Author's Tones...

Literary Examples of Literary Examples of Author's Tones...Author's Tones...

Sarcastic"Just look at the Titanic. The "Just look at the Titanic. The

captain said, 'Even God captain said, 'Even God can't sink this ship.' Then, can't sink this ship.' Then, on the first voyage across on the first voyage across

the Atlantic Ocean, boom, it the Atlantic Ocean, boom, it hit an iceberg and sank. hit an iceberg and sank.

And as soon as a daredevil And as soon as a daredevil utters the words 'piece of utters the words 'piece of cake' before attempting a cake' before attempting a stunt, he is doomed. 'Piece stunt, he is doomed. 'Piece

of cake' becomes his of cake' becomes his 'famous last words.'..."'famous last words.'..."

My Brother's Arm p. 111-112My Brother's Arm p. 111-112

"Just look at the Titanic. The "Just look at the Titanic. The captain said, 'Even God captain said, 'Even God

can't sink this ship.' Then, can't sink this ship.' Then, on the first voyage across on the first voyage across

the Atlantic Ocean, boom, it the Atlantic Ocean, boom, it hit an iceberg and sank. hit an iceberg and sank.

And as soon as a daredevil And as soon as a daredevil utters the words 'piece of utters the words 'piece of cake' before attempting a cake' before attempting a stunt, he is doomed. 'Piece stunt, he is doomed. 'Piece

of cake' becomes his of cake' becomes his 'famous last words.'..."'famous last words.'..."

My Brother's Arm p. 111-112My Brother's Arm p. 111-112

This author's sarcastic This author's sarcastic tonetone inspires a slightly inspires a slightly humorous atmosphere in spite of tragedy. This puts humorous atmosphere in spite of tragedy. This puts

the reader in a cynical the reader in a cynical moodmood..

This author's sarcastic This author's sarcastic tonetone inspires a slightly inspires a slightly humorous atmosphere in spite of tragedy. This puts humorous atmosphere in spite of tragedy. This puts

the reader in a cynical the reader in a cynical moodmood..

Humorous

"When he realized he was "When he realized he was still in one piece, he knew still in one piece, he knew that at the very least he that at the very least he must be completely flat, must be completely flat,

with his face peering out of with his face peering out of his own bottom and his his own bottom and his brains leaking out of his brains leaking out of his

ear. ..."ear. ..."

Toad Heaven p. 64Toad Heaven p. 64

"When he realized he was "When he realized he was still in one piece, he knew still in one piece, he knew that at the very least he that at the very least he must be completely flat, must be completely flat,

with his face peering out of with his face peering out of his own bottom and his his own bottom and his brains leaking out of his brains leaking out of his

ear. ..."ear. ..."

Toad Heaven p. 64Toad Heaven p. 64

This author's humorous This author's humorous tonetone inspires a comic inspires a comic atmosphere. This leads to a playful atmosphere. This leads to a playful moodmood in the in the

reader. (It also helps the reader identify with and care reader. (It also helps the reader identify with and care about the characters.about the characters.

This author's humorous This author's humorous tonetone inspires a comic inspires a comic atmosphere. This leads to a playful atmosphere. This leads to a playful moodmood in the in the

reader. (It also helps the reader identify with and care reader. (It also helps the reader identify with and care about the characters.about the characters.

Examples of Tone

• CautiousCautious

• HumorousHumorous

• AffectionateAffectionate

• HostileHostile

• CriticalCritical

• ObjectiveObjective

• PersonalPersonal

• ViolentViolent

• CautiousCautious

• HumorousHumorous

• AffectionateAffectionate

• HostileHostile

• CriticalCritical

• ObjectiveObjective

• PersonalPersonal

• ViolentViolent

• Solemn / SeriousSolemn / Serious

• SarcasticSarcastic

• DisapprovingDisapproving

• EnthusiasticEnthusiastic

• DesperateDesperate

• PleadingPleading

• IndifferentIndifferent

• Solemn / SeriousSolemn / Serious

• SarcasticSarcastic

• DisapprovingDisapproving

• EnthusiasticEnthusiastic

• DesperateDesperate

• PleadingPleading

• IndifferentIndifferent

It will help you "get the message" of It will help you "get the message" of the text.the text.

It will help you "get the message" of It will help you "get the message" of the text.the text.

The next time you read a passage, The next time you read a passage, try to identify the author's tone.try to identify the author's tone.

The next time you read a passage, The next time you read a passage, try to identify the author's tone.try to identify the author's tone.

From where does the

meaning of a text come???

TextTextTextTextReaderReaderReaderReader

Meaning comes from the interface between…

The text allows the reader to create personal meaning from what was

read.