Learning Goal: Understand theme as conveyed through characters, actions, and images.
Please read pages 220-221 of our blue Holt Elements of Literature textbook for more information about theme. According to our textbook:
The plot of a story is only what happens in it.
The theme is what the story reveals about life.
What happens in a story may help readers infer the theme, but the theme goes beyond the specific story to state a truth about real life. A life lesson.
To discover the theme of a story, the reader will have to ‘read between the lines.’ Authors don’t usually come right out and state the theme word for word. Authors want us to infer the theme based on what the character discovers or how they change.
The lesson a character learns can be stated as a theme. Always state the theme as a complete sentence.
Remember that plot is what happens in a story and theme is what the story reveals about life.
1. What is one major theme of the novel?
2. Support your answer by referring to a significant part of the plot.
nobody's perfect I gotta work it... no seriously nothing can be perfect the way they are trying to make every thing perfect is sickining.
ReplyDeleteTyler period 1
Topic: Choices
ReplyDeleteTheme: The reason people dont have memories of the past is because the elders are afraid that people will make bad choices, but you really need to make bad choices to learn.
Anna marie, natalie, allison 1 block
i know a movie that is exactaly like the giver... TERMANATOR SALVATION they think that humans are not strong enough for war so they build humanoid robots to fight for them. they think the world will be perfect with them but its not
ReplyDeleteTyler and shane period 1
Annamarie, Natalie and Allison-- So in other words, people need the chance to make choices, including bad choices, so they can learn from their choices?
ReplyDeleteI agree the cummunity needs to let the people make dicisions. If they happen to make the wrong one then they will learn ty
ReplyDeletetheme of the giver is that no matter how hard you try you can not make a perfict world, or a utopia. the plot is jonas gets angery at the elders for not allow them to make a choice for there own lifes and feels controled to much and wants to make desions for him self by cole.s and jarod.b
ReplyDeleteThe theme is: a perfect world might seem good but, when seen is a little to much.
ReplyDeleteeric, and noah 2 period
The topic is independence. the theme is what that you should be you. Not what every one elese whatns you to be. indeviguallity is what makes you, you.
ReplyDeletei think the topic is family. because they dont even have blood relative family members. i think that the theme is that you should be with your family
ReplyDeleteEric and Noah-- what are you trying to say? Can you put it into different words so we can understand it better?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anna marie, natalie, allison in block 1 and i agree with Mrs.O'Brien.
ReplyDeletesavannah 2 period
Topic: different
ReplyDeletetheme: it is better to be different so you can prove who you really are but if everyone is the same then what are you proving....nothing,there would be no color
I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE A PERFECT WORLD WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IT TURNS OUT BEING A DISASTER.
ReplyDeleteNOAH AND ERIC
the theme is jonas thinks its not fair they dont get to have memories and to see colors in their comunity and to not have your real family to love you just have your family unit .the topic is choice because nobody has choices anymore.page:through out the book -ANNEMARIE GUTA BLOCK 3
ReplyDeleteTopic: Decisions
ReplyDeleteTheme: You should let people make their own decisions and if they make the wrong decision then they would learn from theuir mistakes and become wiser.
Tyler G. period 3
Annemarie from period 3-- you described a plot event. Can you revise your thinking please? You seem to talk about more than one idea. Narrow it. Be specific. If you want to go with the topic of choice then come up with a theme or life lesson related to that topic. Try this:
ReplyDelete1. Topic:
2. Theme:
3. Plot event which supports the theme:
I don't get how they can make everything perfect nobodys perfect how can they do this to the community, making them take pills and everybody having asingind jobs and rules,i feel that the cummunity needs to be able to make choices dont you? Alex Sadowsky and Brett Hutkay Period 3
ReplyDeleteAlex and Brett- So I think the theme statement is burried in your comments. Can you make your thoughts more clear. Try organizing them like this:
ReplyDelete1. Topic:
2. Theme:
3. Plot event which supports the theme
Plot event: The community makes every decision for every person in the community. They decide what you eat, when you get your bike, when you get your job, what job you get, ect. They decide everything in the community.
ReplyDeleteTyler G. period 3
topic:choice theme:they try to make a perfect comunity but it ends up being not so perfect. plot event that supports the theme:in jonas's comunity they are all the same all birthdays on the same day,you don't even get to know your real family,and the elders make your dissions for you -ANNEMARIE BLOCK 3
ReplyDeleteAnnemarie Period 3- Your topic does not seem to match your theme. I think you should either go with the topic of choice or the theme of nothing can be perfect.
ReplyDeleteHI! Timmy here and I agree with most of your comments.Here's my thoughts:) Topic: There are many topics for this book but I think it is CHOICE! Theme:0 I think you should be able to choose what you want to do,and if you in the end don't like it then,YOU could choose something else.Taking away Choice is wrong! You find the leaders took away choice completely to create this place throught the book! Timmy 3rd period! BYE!
ReplyDeleteTopic: choice
ReplyDeleteTheme: I think choice is cuz its imoprtant to make your own choice and learn from your mistakes. But instead they make you say sorry. I think its much better to learn what you did wrong and know/remember that to not do it again.
~Rachael M.~ ~6th block~
topic: chioce
ReplyDeletetheme: choice is important, soo choose wisly!!
katie a 6th period :)(:
i think that the topic isperfection the theme is no one can have a perfect society.
ReplyDeletecaleb
Topic:i think the topic is REMINDER. because since the whole The Community wants to remind the people who live there basically why they went to Sameness. they just didn't want to have war and bad stuff. that's probably also why they made the town black white and gray so if someone else had a different color skin they wouldn't have a fight about it or go into prejudice.
ReplyDeleteTheme:be thankful for who you are and respect that you have people who care about you and judge people by their looks
-tommy period 6
i think thAt ThE TOpIc is individuallity and the theme is people need to make their own choices because you cannot have a perfect society where you have no choices demonstrated by the whole book
ReplyDeleteCaleb
I think the theme is if you don't make bad choices you wont learn!
ReplyDeleteBy:Andrew
I think the theme is that people need to make choices even bad ones to learn and have freedom
ReplyDeleteSPencer L
Spencer L from period 7-- You have a couple of thoughts there. Let's choose one to develop. Seems like one you are considering is choices and the theme would be people need to make choices, even bad ones to learn. But then you said the words 'have freedom.' That seems like a different topic. I'd go with the first one.
ReplyDeleteMe thinks ye theme is if you don't make the chouce and someone makes it for you than you won't suffer
ReplyDeletePink Unicorn
Here are a few more ideas for topics and themes of The Giver. Use these ideas and the ideas suggested by your fellow followers of this blog to help you choose one to develop.
ReplyDeleteTopic: Family Theme: Always put family first
Topic: Choice Theme: People deserve to make choices and mistakes for themselves
Topic: Choice Theme: Think before you act
Topic: Family Theme: Strong families make the world a better place