What is a Central Theme?

In any story, book, or literary piece, the central theme is like the big idea or lesson that everyone can relate to. Think of it as the main message that the author wants to share with the world. Even though a single book might have a bunch of different themes, there’s usually one big idea that stands out. And guess what? Different stories can talk about the same big idea in their own unique ways.

This post is all about how to spot these big ideas in stories. We’ll guide you through picking texts that have similar themes, show you how to figure out what the main theme of a story is, and teach you how to compare different stories based on how they handle these big themes.

Choosing texts for comparison

When you’re ready to compare themes across different stories, picking the right texts is super important. Here’s what to think about:

1. Pick Age-Appropriate Texts: Choose stories that are just right for your age and reading level. You want something that challenges you a bit but isn’t too tough to understand. Plus, the content should be something you can relate to and is suitable for your age group.
2. Consider Your Time Frame: How much time do you have for this lesson or project? If you’ve only got a short period, you might want to choose a novel and a short story or poem. But if you have more time, like a whole semester, you can dive into multiple books and stories that explore the same theme. This way, you can get a broad view of how different texts handle similar big ideas.

Remember, the goal is to find texts that will be interesting and engaging for you while also giving you enough material to compare and contrast how they approach the same themes.

For example, in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the theme of revenge is prominent. The Montagues and Capulets have been exacting vengeance on the rival family for decades. Additionally, in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” the antagonist, Montresor, exacts revenge on Fortunato for disrespecting his family name.

Even though both texts address the theme of revenge, the message or central idea that results from the depiction of this theme is vastly different. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare warns readers against avenging their enemies as it only results in pain and unnecessary deaths. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor successfully traps and takes vengeance on Fortunato and is seemingly never caught. The central idea in this text is not a warning against taking vengeance; rather, it is a warning against drinking excessively and finding yourself in dangerous situations. Revenge is still bad in both stories, but it is not the central idea or message that the author wants to convey to their readers. 

Understanding the theme of a text

To really get what a story’s theme is all about, you’ve got to dig deep. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Multiple Close-Reads: Start by reading the text a few times. Each read lets you peel back another layer of the story.
2. First Reading – Get the Basics: In your first read, just try to understand the story on a basic level. What happens? Who are the main characters?
3. Second Reading – Notice Patterns and Structure: Now, read it again, but this time focus on the plot’s structure and any patterns you notice. This could be repeating ideas or actions that seem to pop up a lot.
4. Third Reading – Find the Theme: On your third read, it’s time to connect the dots. How do these patterns and the plot relate to real life or bigger ideas? This is where you’ll start to see the theme emerge.

Take “Romeo and Juliet” for example. Throughout the play, there’s constant fighting between the Montagues and Capulets. Our main characters, Romeo and Juliet, try to stop this fighting with their love, but it only leads to more trouble and, eventually, their tragic deaths. After losing their children, both families decide to end their feud. While reading, you might notice themes like violence, revenge, love, and hate. By the end, the play shows us a powerful message: revenge only leads to more pain and loss.

Comparing texts on similar themes

When you’re looking at different stories that share similar themes, it’s like being a detective finding connections and differences. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make it easier:

1. Know the Stories Well: First, ensure you really understand both stories. What’s happening in them? Who are the main characters?
2. List Similarities and Differences: Now, it’s time to play spot the differences (and the similarities). You can use a T-Chart or a Venn Diagram for this.
   • Using a T-Chart: On one side, write down the similarities between the stories. For instance, if you’re comparing “Romeo and Juliet” with “The Cask of Amontillado,” you might note that both involve themes of hatred, murder, and revenge. On the other side, jot down the differences. For example, “Romeo and Juliet” is a tragic love story, whereas “The Cask of Amontillado” is all about revenge without any romantic angle.
   • Using a Venn Diagram: This is like two circles that overlap. Put details unique to “Romeo and Juliet” in one circle and details unique to “The Cask of Amontillado” in the other. Where the circles overlap, write down what they have in common.
3. Analyze the Findings: Think about what these similarities and differences tell you about how each story deals with the theme. In “Romeo and Juliet,” the feud’s cause is unclear, and it ends with the families vowing peace. But in “The Cask of Amontillado,” the motive for revenge is a personal insult, and the story ends with the narrator feeling triumphant about his secret revenge.

By doing this, you’re not just understanding each story better but also getting how different authors can handle similar themes in their own unique ways. It’s like looking at the same picture through different lenses!

Conclusion

The big takeaway here is that the central theme of a story is its main message, idea, or lesson. When you do a close reading of a story, you get to uncover these themes and really grasp what the author is trying to say.

But here’s where it gets even more interesting: many stories might share the same big themes. That’s why it’s super cool to compare different stories and see how each one deals with these themes in its own way. Whether you use a T-Chart or a Venn Diagram, analyzing stories side by side can show you a lot about how different authors play around with the same ideas.

Why does this matter? Well, once you get good at spotting themes and seeing how they show up in different stories, you’ll be able to understand new texts on a much deeper level. You’ll see not just what the stories are about but how they’re talking about bigger ideas that many authors are interested in. And that’s a skill that can really make reading more fun and meaningful. So, next time you pick up a book, think about its themes and how they might connect with other stories you’ve read. Happy reading!

Practice Makes Perfect

In addition to the recommended activities above, Albert provides a wide range of texts for students to analyze and interpret. For emerging readers, check out our Short Readings course, which uses short passages to reinforce fundamental reading skills. Readers at all ability levels may enjoy our Leveled Readings course. It offers Lexile® leveled passages focused on a unifying essential question. This allows you to keep all students on the same page regardless of reading level. Learn more about the Lexile Framework here!

For authentic practice, check out our Essential Readings in Literature course. This course provides an overview of the core texts that American students often read in English class. Each text is broken down by skill, ensuring that students approach their reading from every angle.

With our easy-to-use interface and informative feedback, Albert.io is the perfect tool for reinforcing close reading skills.