Understanding Literary Themes: Lessons from Aesop's Fables
This article explores the concept of literary themes commonly found in stories and creative writing. It provides insights on how to identify theme and how it helps us to better comprehend a
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About Understanding Literary Themes: Lessons from Aesop's Fables
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Slide1Literary Themes Literary Themes Commonly found in stories and creative writing EQ: How do we identify theme and how does it help us to comprehend the story?
Slide2Look for the lesson in the following two stories by Aesop! Look for the lesson in the following two stories by Aesop!
Slide3The Fox and the Crow A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good-day, Madam Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds." The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers."
Slide4The 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," said 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 hate what you cannot have.”
Slide5Themes show up as: Themes show up as: Explicit or Stated - An obvious lesson or moral like Aesop’s Fables Implied – Where you infer what the author is trying to teach us without the author giving us direct information
Slide6So what is a Theme? So what is a Theme? Theme is … Theme is … The Author’s underlying lesson or message The Author’s underlying lesson or message
Slide7Theme is Theme is the author’s underlying message the author’s underlying message t he specific characters or action t he specific characters or action Theme is not Theme is not
Slide81. Ask Yourself - 1. Ask Yourself - Find a word that is the big general idea in the story such as: Find a word that is the big general idea in the story such as: “Fear” “Fear”
Slide92. Once you find the word - 2. Once you find the word - Decide what you think the author is trying to say about that word or idea. Decide what you think the author is trying to say about that word or idea. Example – If our idea is fear, think to yourself: 1. What kinds of fears did our main character have? 2. Did his/her fears protect him/her or hold him/her back from something?
Slide103. The lesson using that word 3. The lesson using that word What is the author trying to teach us using that word or idea. What is the author trying to teach us using that word or idea. Example – fear If the character was trying to get over their fear of heights, the lesson might be: When you fear something, you must try it to get over it. or …. Don’t allow fear to hold you back
Slide11Theme = ideaThe theme (or idea) of a story is its underlying message or lesson on it communicates about life. The theme (or idea) of a story is its underlying message or lesson on it communicates about life.
Slide12Why is theme important to understanding the story? Why is theme important to understanding the story?
Slide13Theme...the meaning of life? Theme...the meaning of life? The theme tells us the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of life. The theme tells us the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of life.
Slide14The author's beliefs may or may not agree with your own beliefs. Even then, if well written, the story may still have a theme that sheds some light on some part of life that may still be valuable to you.
Slide15How you understand the theme depends on your How you understand the theme depends on your previous experience of life and stories Also, theme can help you Also, theme can help you understand life. It can tell you how to behave.
Slide16In other words: In other words: The author's job is to communicate and make a connection with the reader.
Slide17Theme never completely explains the story. T heme never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole. What are the other elements? What are the other elements?
Slide18Let’s think of theme words! Let’s think of theme words! In the following slides, we will be learning more about different themes. Let’s list words that help us think of those themes as you watch the slides. There are several to get you started: In the following slides, we will be learning more about different themes. Let’s list words that help us think of those themes as you watch the slides. There are several to get you started: death – life – fear – loss – honesty –family – love – justice - rebellion death – life – fear – loss – honesty –family – love – justice - rebellion
Slide19Common Literary Themes Common Literary Themes (Themes repeated in many works)
Slide20Life, Death, Immortality Life, Death, Immortality “Stranger, stop and cast an eye. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be, Prepare for death and follow me.”
Slide21How an individual behaves or protests against in society. “character vs. society” “character vs. society” Conflict with social traditions Conflict with social traditions Protesting the laws of society Protesting the laws of society Being against slavery before the civil war Being against slavery before the civil war Supporting women’s right to vote Supporting women’s right to vote Hard work, Independence, Freedom Hard work, Independence, Freedom Hard work, Independence, Freedom Hard work, Independence, Freedom
Slide22Character’s inward journey to understand himself or herself . Character vs Self Confidence, Honesty, Rebellion, Greed
Slide23The individual’s experience of being alone and in despair The individual’s experience of being alone and in despair Loneliness, Depression, Fear Loneliness, Depression, Fear
Slide24The individual’s relationship and obligation to the natural world. The individual’s relationship and obligation to the natural world. “man “man vs. vs. nature” nature” Survival Survival Stewardship (care of the earth) Stewardship (care of the earth)
Slide25How justice and injustice are decided How justice and injustice are decided Fairness, Revenge, Judgment Fairness, Revenge, Judgment
Slide26What it means to be a hero or anti-hero (the bad guy). What it means to be a hero or anti-hero (the bad guy). Good, Evil Good, Evil
Slide27What it means to be a “survivor.” What it means to be a “survivor.” Survival, Leadership, Industry (hard working), Persistence
Slide28What tomorrow’s world holds for us … What tomorrow’s world holds for us … “The Future” “The Future” Human vs Machine or Technology Human vs Machine or Technology
Slide29All sides of Love & Hate All sides of Love & Hate Marriage Marriage Romance Romance Platonic or companionate love Platonic or companionate love Love of Country Love of Country Admiration Admiration Possessiveness Possessiveness Intense dependency Intense dependency
Slide30All sides of Love & Hate All sides of Love & Hate Self-centered love Self-centered love Godly love Godly love Familial love Familial love Infatuation Infatuation Jealousy Jealousy
Slide31Review the Definition What is Theme? Review the Definition What is Theme? Theme is the author’s underlying message
Slide32Summary:What questions should I ask to find the theme of a story? Summary: What questions should I ask to find the theme of a story? 2. What lesson should I take from this story? 2. What lesson should I take from this story? (Large general ideas like death, fear, loss, family love, revenge) 1. What topics keep coming up in the story? 1. What topics keep coming up in the story?
Slide33Literary Themes Literary Themes End of Presentation. End of Presentation.
Slide34http://ullam.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/bateman_fox_and_grapes.jpghttp://cantueso.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/fox-got-the-cheese-p-r22.jpg http://bitsandpieces.us/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/imagesin-20case-20you- 20were-20wondering.gif http://www.quiztron.com/quiz_images/100_877212881.jpg http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1538/PreviewComp/SuperStock_153 8R-4003.jpg http://img.tfd.com/wn/AC/66924-pity.gif http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/library/love-7.gif http://teachers.greenville.k12.sc.us/sites/ahembree/ART%20SCRIBBLES/teacher_ clipart_6.gif
Slide35About themes … About themes … theme of a fable theme of a parable theme of a piece of literature Example – “Life is Precious” Themes (lessons or messages) can be found everywhere : literature, stories, art, movies etc… Moral Teaching View about life and how people behave