Theme

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Period 1 - Characterization 1

Boy in Striped Pajamas

Read in complete silence for 10 min

Leerdoelen / Toets

Characterization - S.T.E.A.L.

THEME versus Topics

Opdracht (1x) SO (3x)

Characterization

The process by which the story develops the personality traits of its characters.

What was characterization again?

1. Names of characters in the novel
2. The style of storytelling
3. The personality of the characters
4. How the story develops the personality of characters

Robert is an angry teacher

1. Direct characterization
3. Indirect characterization

Robert threw one of his students out of the window.

1. Indirect characterization
3. Direct characterization

Types of characterization

running quickly
through the events of the previous few days to con¬
sider whether he’d been particularly naughty or had
used those words out loud that he wasn’t allowed
to use and was being sent away because of it.

1. speech
2. thoughts
3. effect on others
4. actions

‘Well, sometimes when someone is very im¬
portant,’ continued Mother, ‘the man who employs
him asks him to go somewhere else because there’s a
very special job that needs doing there.’

1. Thoughts
2. Actions
3. Speech
4. Looks

It was quite a strange face
too. His skin was almost the colour of grey, but not
quite like any grey that Bruno had ever seen before.
He had very large eyes and they were the colour of caramel sweets

1. Looks
2. Actions
3. Speech
4. Thoughts

Theme

Lesson goal:

You can come up with the theme of a story

 Topic vs Theme 

A theme topic is a broad idea repeated throughout the text that is usually 1-2 words.

Examples: Adventure, Love, Human Nature, Justice, Loyalty, Death etc.

Topic vs Theme 

A theme statement is a sentence stating the lesson/message the author tries to teach the reader.

Example: Love can cause you pain.

Theme

A theme statement can be subjective; your take on a story may be different from someone else's take.

Now let's practice coming up with main idea, moral, topic and theme

Write down:

1. the theme topic 
   
2. the theme statement 
   

Discuss your with your partner about possible topcis and themes.

What is the theme of Purl

Possible themes of Purl

Don't change who you are for others

Don't change who you are to fit in. 

Be the change you want to see at your place of work.

Conclusion

You now know how to come up with the theme of a story.

You know how to use S.T.E.A.L. to describe characterization.