Explanation Of Big Ideas And Themes In Literature

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The literary terms of “big idea” and “theme” often get used interchangeably even though they are distinct.  This content is typically learned around sixth grade or so, but it can still be helpful to review it with students in any of the secondary grades.

 

Here are definitions and lists of popular examples for each one, specifically seen in middle school and high school texts.

 

Big idea is a topic that is revisited several times throughout the text; a big idea is usually one or two words that typically must be inferred from the text.  Here are a few big ideas:

  • Love
  • Courage
  • Good vs. evil

 

Theme is a moral, a lesson, or a belief about life that is often revealed through the conflicts in the text; a theme is always a complete sentence that must be inferred from the text.  Here are a few themes:

  • Love gives the power to overcome challenges.
  • Courage presents itself when needed most.
  • In the battle of good versus evil, those who are deemed good are not always victorious. 

 

Of course, these lists are not exhaustive – they simply serve as samples to distinguish between the two terms.  All of this content can be discovered in a variety of texts – novels, short stories, films, etc. 


Whether your students are learning about big ideas and themes for the first time or are reviewing them as a refresher, an effective complement to the lesson is to tie in a text that all of your students know. 

 

In either of the scenarios listed above, you should begin by referencing a familiar text, such as a popular children’s story or a novel that your students already read together as a class.  Establish how to identify a big idea in that story, such as the big idea of love, and then create a theme from it based on how love is presented in that story.  For example, love is seen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  The theme may be something along the lines of “true love conquers all.”  A complete sentence has been crafted to express the way that love is demonstrated in that text.     

 

To build on this content, select another text with the same big idea but different theme.  You might choose Romeo and Juliet.  While love is a big idea in this text, the theme is unlike that of the previous example.  The theme, which again is a complete sentence, may be worded as “love can distort one’s ability to think clearly.”  Students will discover that a particular big idea can provide a variety of messages, otherwise called themes.

 

Having a strong understanding of this content will prove useful at all stages of students’ education.  As students progress into the higher grades, they will be expected to independently identify and analyze various elements in texts, such as big ideas and themes, especially when completing written assignments.  Be sure that your students are well-prepared to accomplish such tasks.    

 

What big ideas have your students enjoyed?  What themes have they identified in literature?  Leave a question, comment, or suggestion below, in the Comments Section!  

 

Please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store to purchase a variety of resources for all grades and subjects!

 

Peace.  Love.  Reading & Writing.

 

💗 Miss M


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