Day 50 – Universal Theme

INSTRUCTOR: KYLE BRITT

Objectives

1) Understand and Identify Universal Theme in Fiction

*Turn in your Close Reading packets*

Homework: Read LotF chapters 9-12 and complete worksheets by 4/22 Study Grammar

Agenda

• Warm Up• Vocabulary Practice•Universal Theme•Universal Theme Short Story• Closure

Warm Up

Using the theme diagram above, construct a theme statement from “The Story of an Hour”. Label your paper:1- Big Idea:2- What the author says about big idea:3- Theme Statement:

English IAtone Hamper Hew Bondage Impoverishe

d

Credible Defray Diligent Incessant Intricate

Lucid Doleful Ghastly Posthumous

Prim

Sardonic Superfluous Supplant Taunt Tenacious

VCR Unit 9 Quiz 20 Min.

Please remove everything from your desk except for a pen/pencil.Write your name at the top of the paper.Eyes on your own paper and please, no talking.When finished, take out your LotF book and read.

How Can You Determine a Theme?

• You are never actually TOLD what the theme is in a story. You determine the theme from the characters and action in a story. In short, you must determine the theme on your own.

Theme - Example 1

• Beauty and the Beast - The theme could be described as “you must look beyond superficial surface beauty and look for what's inside the heart”

Theme - Example 2

• Aladdin - The theme could be described as love is not earned through money, but from the heart.

Universal Themes

• Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all--either in our experiences or in our dreams.

Universal Themes A-Z

• - abuse of power• - action vs apathy• - beating the odds• - beauty• - coming of age• - corruption• - courage• - effects of the past• - faith• - fall from grace• - family

Universal Themes A-Z (cont’d)

• - fate• - fear• - fear of failure• - freedom• - friendship• - greed• - hate• - heritage• - heroes• - honesty• - innocence• - justice• - love• - loyalty

Universal Themes A-Z (cont’d)

• - manipulation• - mothering• - nature• - need for change• - obligation• - parent-child relationships• - peace• - peer pressure• - perseverance• - Power of the mind vs. authority

• - prejudice• - price of progress• - pride• - quest for knowledge• - religion• - revenge• - secrecy• - security/safety• - seizing the moment• - survival• - the overlooked• - the road not taken• - war• - winners and losers

Example of Universal Theme

• What is the universal theme presented in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

What other stories have the same universal theme of the individual overcoming one’s selfishness and greed?

• The main character Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol symbolizes a greedy wealthy man

Individual Practice -> Universal Theme Short Story

Take out a piece of paper and write your name at the top.

Pick out one of the universal themes from todays lesson.

Construct a short story that utilizes that theme.

The theme must permeate the plot, characters, and setting.

It must be at least a page. Don’t write the theme in the story.

Pair Practice

Swap your story with your partner.

Read the story and find the theme.

Use the theme diagram to construct a theme statement.

Closure

• Using our model, come up with a theme statement that is present in LotF.• Write this theme statement down. • Keep updating this statement as you read.• Theme Statement = Big Idea + What the author

says about this idea.