How can I find the theme of a book?

Question

I have read the book and I have to write a report on it. the only thing is that I don't know what a theme is or how to find it. can you help me? It's really important.

Answer 1

Every book ever written makes some kind of point, some message. The point of the book - the thing it is trying to say - is called its theme. You will need to sit and analyze what the author was trying to tell you with the story.

You will find clues to the theme in things like the attitudes and statements of the narrator and the characters; the actions of the characters and the consequences of those actions; the kind of images used; and the overall tone of the book (happy, sad, angry, despairing).

Sometimes, the theme is stated directly. Look for philosophical statements made by either a character or the narrator that exactly fit what is happening in the story.

Answer 2

You didn't mention the book. So how can we answer the question? The theme of the book is simply an idea that flows through the book and states something about life. When you were young, your parents may have read you stories that ended with “the moral of this story. What ever the book you are reading

Answer 3

The theme of a book is basically a lesson the book teaches. For example, if in a book a girl rode her bike on the street even though her mother told her not to and she falls, the theme is that you should always listen to your elders because they are wiser. Same thing with your book--what was a lesson that you could learn from it? Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

Well, what is the name of the book?

You probably know what a theme is but just in case you need a better idea...

In literature, a theme is a broad idea in a story, or a message conveyed by a work. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in literature; however, some readers would say that all stories inherently project some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the intent of the author. Analysis of changes in dynamic characters can provide insight into a particular theme.

A theme is not the same as the subject of a work. For example, the subject of Green Eggs and Ham is "green eggs and ham are well worth eating, no matter the location". The theme might be "have an open mind". It is also important to note that subjects may be stated in one word, whereas the theme is a full phrase or sentence, yet not a moral.

Themes differ from motifs in that themes are ideas conveyed by a text, while motifs are repeated symbols that represent those ideas. Simply having repeated symbolism related to chess, does not make the story's theme the similarity of life to chess. Themes arise from the interplay of the plot, the characters, and the attitude the author takes to them, and the same story can be given very different themes in the hands of different authors. For instance, the source for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Matteo Bandello's The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet gave the story the theme of "the wickedness and folly of marrying without parental consent",

And to this end, good Reader, is this tragical matter written, to describe unto thee a couple of unfortunate lovers, thralling themselves to unhonest desire; neglecting the authority and advice of parents and friends; conferring their principal counsels with drunken gossips and superstitious friars (the naturally fit instruments of unchastity); attempting all adventures of peril for th' attaining of their wished lust; using auricular confession the key of whoredom and treason, for furtherance of their purpose; abusing the honourable name of lawful marriage to cloak the shame of stolen contracts; finally by all means of unhonest life hasting to most unhappy death.

but in Shakespeare's hands, the same story acquires the theme of "the wickedness of feuds and parental heavy-handedness in preventing young love from marrying."

While thematic analysis is a primary concern of literary critics, a minority viewpoint holds that explicitly stating the theme of a work universalizes it in an inappropriate way. For example, many love stories end happily when the hero and heroine marry, thus the theme "Marriage equals happiness." Critics would point out that marriage rarely does simply equate to happiness and that marriage and happiness are individual and cultural intangibles that may or may not relate.

The term theme may be used in the same way to refer to works of theatre and film. The examples below are not necessarily the only themes in the works listed. An example of a true theme could be taken from Congo, for example, where greed leads to destruction.

Answer 5

A theme is a topic in the story. So for instance, if you were reading a book about the fire fighters from 9/11, the theme would be "heroic" because they were heroes for trying to save others in spite of the saftey of themselves.

Answer 6

What the teacher is looking for is what you think the author is trying to communicate; what is the main point of the book.? What do you consider important; what stood out to you? The theme may be different things to different people, and thats okay.

Answer 7

The term theme has such a broad reference, theme can be anything, from emotion to an object . a theme could be sadness or depression or it could be about memories or control. it's really up to you what theme you wish to work with .

Answer 8

You read the book, and then decide what large idea the author was expressing through it. It's all up to your interpretation.