​​What is theme anyway?

A theme is the central idea, message, or insight within a literary work.​

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It should not be confused with the topic or main idea which tell what the story is about. A theme—the author’s message about the topic—can be expressed in a sentence.

​How do authors create theme in their stories?

​​Fiction writers often develop the theme through setting, characterization, and plot.

Wait! Review this real quick...

Characterization is the description of the characters. The behaviors, motivations, emotions, and interactions of characters can be clues to a story’s theme.​

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The plot is the sequence of events in a story. Plots are driven by one or more conflicts that the characters face. The types of conflicts and the ways in which characters deal with them give clues to a story’s theme.

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​The setting is the time and place in which characters live. Historical and cultural effects of the setting (such as war, famine, or social inequality) may give clues to a story’s theme.

​To figure out the theme, readers should ask questions such as these:

​• What do I know about the characters and their interactions?

• What is the story’s setting?

What effect, if any, does it have on the characters?

• What conflicts are presented in the plot?

• How do characters deal with the conflicts?

• What do characters learn from the conflicts?