Finding Theme Through What Characters Learn

Use the character's change and the story's ending to figure out the theme.

Authors rarely state the theme directly, so readers infer it. The best clue is what the main character learns, especially near the climax and resolution. Ask three questions: What was the character's problem? How did they respond? What did they learn, and could that lesson apply to anyone? Try it. A young potter, Lu, keeps smashing bowls that aren't perfect.

One day her teacher shows her an old bowl with a crack repaired in gold and says it's her favorite. Lu begins to keep her imperfect bowls and fixes them with care. Lu's problem was needing perfection. She learned that flaws can be beautiful. So a theme might be: 'Mistakes and imperfections can make something more special. ' Notice the theme doesn't mention Lu or bowls. It applies to everyone.

• 1Themes are usually inferred, not stated.
• 2Look at what the main character learns.
• 3A theme should apply to anyone, not just the character.