Understanding Themes in Literature

Introduction

• The video addresses students who may struggle with discussing themes in literature.
• Emphasizes the importance of not just glancing over texts and suggests reading thoroughly or using resources like SparkNotes if necessary.

Step 1: Identify a Major Conflict

• Start by identifying a central conflict within the story you are reading.
• Example from Of Mice and Men: The conflict involves George and Lennie striving to own a ranch.

Step 2: Identify the Resolution

• Determine how the conflict is resolved.
• In Of Mice and Men, the resolution highlights that George must move on as their dream of owning the ranch fails due to tragic circumstances.

Step 3: Make Conflicts and Resolutions Universal

• Transform the specific conflict and resolution into universal themes or concepts.
• For Of Mice and Men:
• Conflict themes: companionship, goal setting, the American Dream.
• Resolution themes: destroyed expectations, sacrifice.

Step 4: Establish Relationships in a Thematic Statement

• Create a statement that connects the universal ideas derived from the conflict and resolution.
• Avoid specifics like character names or events to keep the theme broad and applicable to various contexts.
• Template for the statement:
• "[Author's Last Name] writes [Title] in order to illustrate that [Universal Idea] often requires [Related Idea]."
• Example: "Steinbeck writes Of Mice and Men in order to illustrate that companionship often requires immense sacrifice."

Application to other literature

• This technique can be applied to analyze themes in poetry and all forms of fiction.
• Students should use their universal insights to substantiate their statements by referencing the story read.
• Encouraged to explore further resources for additional guidance on theme analysis.