Name: _________________________________ Period: _____ Date: ________________________

“Marigolds” –Eugenia Collier

Central Ideas & Themes
After you finish reading a short story, novel, play, poem, etc., you always want to ask yourself the following question:
So what? Why did the author write this? What does he/she want me to know? In other words, what theme is the
author trying to convey?
A theme is the underlying meaning of the story, a universal truth, a significant statement the story
is making about society, human nature, or the human condition. A theme must be clearly stated in a sentence; one
word is not enough.

For example, to say that a story’s theme is "friendship" is ambiguous (unclear). It may mean "Friends are a person's most
valuable possession." It may also mean, "Friends can never be trusted if their own interests are opposed to yours."

“Friendship” is a central idea that is developed in the text, but it is not a theme.

Central Ideas = Emerging Themes: Although a theme may not be fully developed until
the end of a story, you should be able to determine possible emerging themes early in
the text. Basically, what central ideas is the work exploring? Once you determine
emerging themes, you should track their development throughout the course of the work.
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Directions: Consider the poem you have just read.
1. What central ideas is the author exploring in the poem? Choose one central idea to
focus on.
2. Next, determine what the author is trying to say about this central idea and write a
statement; this is your theme.
3. Pull specific evidence from the text to support the theme. Crocus flower bulbs signal spring; the time of year when plants
are coming back to life. Analogy: An emerging theme (central
idea) is like an emerging crocus; it doesn’t become a theme
until the “flower” is in full bloom.

Practice on the reverse side.

STEP #1: Begin by creating a list of central ideas that are explored in the story.

Central Ideas:

HOW TO WRITE A
LITERARY THEME

Understand the
difference between
theme and plot.

Example:
Theme Discussion:
“Marigolds” is a story
about…

Do NOT finish this sentence

with a plot summary. When
discussing a theme in this
poem, it is not correct to
say, “’Marigolds’ is a
story about a girl who
regrets a decision she
made out of shame and
anger when she was a
Practice on the reverse side.
young girl." This is an
accurate summary of the
 a theme.

STEP #2: To write a theme for the story, take one of the central ideas listed above, consider what the author is saying
about this central idea, and make it into a statement.

Theme Formula: Central Idea + Author Commentary = Theme

While a poem or short story will often develop one major theme, a novel, which often has several plot lines, may
develop several major themes.

A literary theme should have the following qualities:

 It must be a complete declarative sentence, not just a word or phrase.
 It must be supported with evidence from throughout the text.
 It should not preach or give advice. It avoids using the words “should,” and “ought.”
 It does not directly address the audience. It avoids using the word “you.”
 It avoids ambiguity.

Theme: ________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

STEP #3: Support the literary theme with specific evidence from the text: Here is where plot comes in. Use specific
events from the plot to support the theme. *Note: When pulling evidence, consider beginning with the summary of the
scene, a paraphrase of an important passage, and a poignant quote from the passage that exemplifies and/or
amplifies what is being said.

Practice on the reverse side.