Transcript Theme and Symbol - Miss Morrow's 7th Grade Language Arts

Theme and Symbol
Identifying what's really important in a text
What is a Theme?
•
the key idea at the heart of a
story
•
a message about life or human
nature that a writer wants you
to understand
Theme in Literature
•
Themes in literature are often big
ideas that people of all ages in all
parts of the world think about.
They can be unique themes
specific to a particular time or
place, or they can be universal
themes that show up again and
again in texts from all time
periods and cultures.
•
Theme is often communicated
through the different elements of
a story - the setting, the
characters, the conflict, and the
symbols of a story all help us to
identify theme.
Identifying Theme The Fox and the Grapes
One hot summer’s day a Fox was strolling through an
orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening
on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch.
“Just the thing to quench my thirst,” quoth he. Drawing
back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just
missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One,
Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater
success. Again and again he tried after the tempting
morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away
with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are
sour.”
It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
Identifying Theme The Fox and
the
Grapes
THEME:
It is easy to belittle (despise)
what you cannot get
Character
The Main
Character
is the Fox,
who is
hungry
and
thirsty,
and wants
something
to
eat/drink.
Setting
The Fox is
in a
vineyard (a
place where
grapes
grow),
where he
sees an
opportunity
to get
something
to eat
Symbol
The grapes
are hanging
just out of
the fox's
reach - they
represent
something
he desires
but cannot
obtain
Conflict
The fox tries
jumping and
reaching for
the grapes;
but he
cannot get
them, and so
he remains
thirsty and
hungry. In
addition, he
has now
become
angry.
Identifying Theme:
Together
The Lion and the Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began
running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the
Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened
his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried
the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never
forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a
turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at
the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he
lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the
Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired
to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while
they went in search of a wagon to carry him on. Just
then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing
the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him
and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King
of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Identifying Theme:
Together
Using a chart like the one for "The Fox and the Grapes," determine the theme for "The Lion
and The Mouse." How do the characters, setting, symbols and conflict show the theme?
Identifying Theme: Your Turn
In groups, read the fable on your desk. Identify the theme, and work backward to
show how character, setting, symbol, and conflict help determine the theme. Pick
someone to share with the class. You will have 8 minutes.
Identifying Theme:
On Your Own
Read "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte on page 443. Then, in
your journal, answer the following questions in complete
sentences. Do not write the question. You have 10 minutes.
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What is the conflict?
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What is Alfred's goal? What does Mr. Donatelli think about that
goal?
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Given what Mr. Donatelli says in lines 14-20, what do you think
boxing might symbolize to him?
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Reread lines 29-31. What lesson might Alfred learn from training
as a boxer? State this lesson as a THEME.
Topic vs Theme
Theme and topic of a story sound and look very similar, but they are not the same.
Topic
Can be described in one or
two words
ex: First Impressions
Theme
Generally takes one or two
sentences to describe
ex: First impressions aren't always
right.
While both the topic and the theme are what the story is about, the topic is just the general
idea of what the story is about, and the theme is the writer's message about the topic. If we
think about our own writing, the Topic would be what we are writing about, and the Theme is
what we are trying to tell our audience about the theme.
Here's a more familiar way of looking at topic v. theme.
Topic: First Impressions
Theme: First Impressions aren't
always right
Focus Map
Theme is the more specific message that the author is
trying to communicate about the topic.
Clues to find Theme
Authors don't always directly state their themes, but the theme is always present. To find an implied theme, it is a
good idea to look closely at the following things:
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Title: The title of a story can suggest an important idea or symbol. What in the story does the title refer to? What
idea or symbol does the title highlight? Could the title have more than one meaning?
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Characters: Characters can reflect the theme by how they act or what they learn. What do the main character's
actions and thoughts tell you about him or her? How does the character change? What lessons does the
character learn?
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Plot and Conflict: A story revolves around conflicts that are central to the theme. What conflicts do the
characters face? How are the conflicts resolved?
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Setting: Setting can connect to a theme because of what it means to the characters or readers. How does the
setting affect the characters or influence their actions? What might the setting represent to readers?
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Important Statements: The narrator or a character may make statements that hint at the theme. What key
statements are made in the story? Could any statement be reworded as an overall theme?
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Symbols: A symbol can convey a theme because of what it means to the main character. Does anything seem
to stand for something beyond itself? What might the symbol mean to the main character? What might it
represent to the readers?
Analyzing Literature Together:
"Abuela Invents the Zero"
Together, we will read "Abuela Invents the Zero" by Judith Ortiz
Cofer on page 445. Try to answer the questions on your own as
you are given time. 30 minutes.
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Examine the title of the story and reread the first paragraph.
What symbol do you predict will be central to the theme?
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Reread the boxed details. These are Connie's thoughts about her
grandmother. Based on these details, how would you describe
Connie?
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What conflicts might arise for Connie during her grandmother's
visit?
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How would you describe Connie's attitude and treatment of her
grandmother? Support your answer.
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Why do you think the author chose a church as the setting for this
scene? How might she want you to react to Connie's behavior
there?
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What lesson has Connie learned from the conflict with her
grandmother? Where on page 447 do you see this lesson directly
stated as a theme?
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What new understanding of the word zero does Connie now
have? What understanding do you have of the story's title?
Analyzing
Literature and
Finding Theme:
Pandora's Box
We will read "Pandora's Box"
Together, analyzing the topic
and theme as we read. Turn
to Page 456 in your text
book.
Analyzing Literature:
Pandora's Box Clue #1
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Title:
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What does the title refer to?
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What does this title highlight? What is important?
Analyzing Literature:
Pandora's Box Clue #2
Fill out the chart to determine the main characters, what their actions were, what happened as a result
of their actions, and what lesson was learned:
Character
Zeus
Epimethus
Pandora
?
Action
Result
Lesson
Analyzing Literature:
Pandora's Box Clue #3
Fill in the plot diagram to see what conflict the story
revolves around. How does that help us find the theme?
Analyzing Setting:
Pandora's Box Clue #4
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Where is the story set?
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How does the setting influence the characters?
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What might the setting mean to the reader?
Analyzing Setting:
Pandora's Box Clue #5
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Are there any important statements made by any of
the characters or the narrator?
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Do any of the statements address the topic?
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Can any of the statements be re-worded into a
central theme or message?
Analyzing Literature:
Pandora's Box Clue #6
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Why does Zeus give Pandora to Epimethus?
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What does Pandora represent to Epimethus?
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What does Pandora represent to the reader?
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Why does Zeus give the box to Pandora?
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What does the box represent for Pandora?
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What does the box represent for the reader?
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What do the things inside the box mean?
Analyzing Literature:
Pandora's Box - Theme
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Look at all the theme clues you found for Pandora's
Box. What is the topic of Pandora's Box? What is
the theme of Pandora's Box?