Understanding Literary Themes in Texas Education, Exams of Literature

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Analyzing Literature

Literary Theme in the TEKS

In the state of Texas All Elementary Students are expected to:

Analyze, make inferences and draw

conclusions about theme and genre in different

cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts

and provide evidence from the text to support

their understanding.

What is Theme in Literature?

When you are talking about literature, one of the most important things you need to discuss is the “ Central Theme ” of the text.

The Theme refers to the central idea or underlying message of the text. The Theme is rarely stated in the text – instead, the reader must usually consider the plot, characters, and setting to infer the theme.

What is Theme in Literature?

Theme is often confused with other literary elements such as Plot or Topic (or Subject)

However, the Theme of a piece of literature is a

message about people, life, and the world we

live in that the author wants the reader to

understand.

The Topic, on the other hand, is the main idea or gist of the story.

What is Theme in Literature?

Charlotte ’ s Web

Topic

A talking spider helps a pig.

Theme(s)

Self-Sacrifice True Friendship Perseverance

What is Theme in Literature?

The Ugly Duckling

Topic

An ugly duckling grows up to become a beautiful swan

Theme(s)

Patience Self-Confidence Individuality

What is Theme in Literature?

Similarly, somebody might describe the

“ theme ” of Pink and Say or Mercedes and the

Chocolate Pilot as stories about war.

But in these cases, war is the setting – it influences the theme, but it is not the theme.

Both of these books deal with themes of friendship and philanthropy in a time of war.

What is Theme in Literature?

The theme can also be described in terms of a moral, or message, or lesson that the reader can gain from the piece of literature.

The Tortoise and the Hare is a lesson

in perseverance.

The Gingerbread Man is

a lesson in arrogance and the folly of pride.

Identify the Theme

Now you try it.

Which of the following is the THEME of City

Mouse Country Mouse?

A. A country mouse visits his cousin in the city. B. A mouse discovers he does not like the city. C. Be grateful for what you already have.

Identify the Theme

Now you try it.

Which of the following is the THEME of Horton

Hears a Who?

A. An elephant struggles to save a community. B. Elephants have very good hearing. C. True friendship knows no boundaries.

Theme Instruction and Rigor

Notice that “ Identifying ” the Theme is a 2 nd Grade expectation.

Students in 3rd^ and 4th^ grade should be able to Explain the theme by providing details from the text.

By 5th^ Grade, students should be able to synthesize and compare themes across multiple works of literature.

Try it with your students

As you read with your students, ask them to analyze the theme of the text. What message is the author trying to give them? What lesson are they learning?

Ask your students to make thematic connections across texts. How many stories do they know where good conquers evil? How many stories can they think of where people get what they deserve?

Try it with your students

Teaching theme also provides opportunities to teach common English idioms:

• You Reap what you Sow
• It is always darkest just before the dawn
• The Grass is Greener on the other side of the fence.
• Pride Goeth Before the Fall
• Honesty is the Best Policy

These idioms are often the moral for many classic children ’ s stories, so students can use these common expressions when discussing the theme of books they are reading.

Try it with your students

When working with your students, be sure to teach at the DEPTH and SOPHISTICATION expected in the grade-level expectations in the TEKS.

Do not, for example, just ask 5th^ grade students to IDENTIFY the Theme – ask them to ANALYZE, EXPLAIN, and COMPARE the theme in multiple works of literature.