THEME is usually looked upon as the MESSAGE, LIFE LESSON, or INSIGHT of a narrative piece, whether it is fiction or nonfiction.
There can be MAJOR and MINOR themes:
A MAJOR theme is one that MOST of the events of the narrative deal with; the plot, conflict and resolution revolve around this issue.
EXAMPLE: In The Hunger Games, a majortheme is that people should not have to suffer for the entertainment of others. This issue is dealt with is nearly every aspect of the story, from the lottery in which Prim is selected to the brutal and televised fight for survival.
A MINOR theme is one that is ALSO dealt with, but usually in subplots and with minor characters.
EXAMPLE: In The Hunger Games, Katniss is quick to judge and criticize others, such as Haymitch and Peeta, even though they are not her enemies, and this leads to conflict. So, a minor theme is that we should not be prematurely judgemental.
Theme is:
the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature.
the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject—the writer’s view of the world or a revelation about human nature.
Theme is NOT: • expressed in a single word • the purpose of a work • the conflict
Identifying the Theme To identify the theme, be sure that you’ve first identified the story’s plot, the way the story uses characterization, and the primary conflict in the story. Use these steps to determine the theme for a work:
Summarize the plot by writing a one-sentence description for the exposition, the conflict, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution.
Identify the topic/issue it is dealing with (injustice, friendship, inequality, etc.).
Identify the insight or truth that was learned about the subject. Ask yourself:
How did the protagonist change?
What lesson did the protagonist learn from the resolution of the conflict?
Is this theme supported by evidence from the work itself?
Are all the author’s choices of plot, character,conflict, and tone controlled by this theme?