What do you already know about theme?

Finding Theme

Words to Know:

Topic - the subject of the text; usually just one word

Theme - message of a text, often expressed as a general statement about life. A text can have more than one theme.

Infer - to determine something by using prior knowledge, reasoning and evidence from the text

​Steps to determine theme:

1. Determine the topic of the text.

2. Consider the details in the text:

   1. setting

   2. conflict

   3. resolution

   4. character - thoughts, actions, feelings

3. Make an inference about the message that is implied throughout the text.

​Read the following text:

from Aesop’s Fables

A FOX, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter felling an oak and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Woodcutter advised him to take shelter in his own hut, so the Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner. The huntsman soon came up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if he had seen the Fox. He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he was speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing his word, hastened forward in the chase. As soon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, "You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you leave me without a word of thanks." The Fox replied, "Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently if your deeds had been as good as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to your speech."