“Describe the theme of the book in your book report,” the teacher says.
Everybody else seems to understand, but you don’t. What is a theme? Will you know it when you see it? What if you get it wrong?
The Difference Between a Thesis and a Theme
It is easy to confuse a thesis and a theme, because both of these terms concern the overall message of a book. The main difference is that "thesis" is generally used when referring to nonfiction works (you find them in history books and science books) while a "theme" is used when referring to a literary work (fiction). The thesis of a nonfiction piece is the argument the writer is making. It is often stated clearly in a single sentence within the first chapter of a book or the first few paragraphs of an article. With a little practice, the thesis is easy to locate.Nonfiction is not so easy. Literature is an art, and the beauty of art is that it can be interpreted differently by everyone. The message of a fiction book is much like the message of a beautiful painting. It is not something that is stated in a particular sentence and easily located; it is something that is comprehended upon reflection.
It might help to think of a theme as an idea that flows through the book and states something about life.
Finding a Theme
When you were young, your parents may have read you stories that ended with “the moral of this story is…”That moral was a message that you could glean from the overall story. For instance, from The Three Little Pigs we learned about the importance of building a strong house, and you could call that the theme of the book. But we could also say the theme was about making smart choices. A theme isn’t stated outright; it often appears as a lesson or message that the reader understands by reading between the lines.
A book of fiction can have many themes. Why? Because different people can find different meanings in books. You may find a lesson that others don’t see.
Teachers enjoy reading new interpretations of books. And teachers are smart. They know about all of those literature guides that offer students shortcuts, like pre-packaged lists of possible themes, character lists, and plot summaries. It's dangerous to use these guide books.
Why Some Themes Aren't Allowed
Sometimes an assignment will concern a book that is very well known, widely read, and often reviewed. The large themes in these books are considered common knowledge. For that reason, some teachers may give a list of unacceptable themes with your assignment.For example, in Huckleberry Finn a well known and obvious theme is “coming of age.” Your teacher might ask you to avoid that theme and encourage you to come up with something more original.
If you are pressed to find an original theme in a book, just pay a little attention as you read. Watch out for anything you can pick up between the lines. Using sticky notes, keep track of any ideas, objects, relationships, problems, or lessons that seem to appear again and again.
An Object as a Theme
Sometimes an object such as a bridge or a large body of water will appear over and over in a book. The object could actually be a theme. If you notice that an object does seem to be a theme of a book, try to determine any possible deeper meaning of that object. Does it symbolize something? A bridge represents a crossover or change, doesn't it? Deep water represents mystery, and trees can symbolize sturdiness, dependability, and strength. If your main character struggles with any of these qualities and he keeps referring to trees—bingo! You’ve found a theme.When you decide upon a theme, make sure to use examples and quotations from the book as you write the book report, to prove that the theme is important. Remember, as long as you have evidence to back up your theme idea, you're on the right track.
