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Understanding Universal Theme Statements

Learn how to identify and write universal theme statements—ideas in literature that apply to all people. Understand the difference between central ideas and themes, and how to express them in meaningful, complete sentences.

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    Universal Theme Statement Definition A universal theme statement is a phrase that describes how we present themes in class. All parts of the phrase are relevant to our uses. It is universal, meaning that anyone, regardless of any external differences, can relate to it (if you are human, it applies to you in some way). Theme is a subject or topic brought up in a text which that piece goes into great detail about. These are often brought up and exemplified as the text goes on. and are usually discovered upon the completion of a reading. Statement is a simple definition: it has to be a sentence. Thus, our full definition of a universal theme statement is a topic or idea that is frequently and deliberately brought up in a text that applies to anyone reading it and presented in a full sentence. Theme is often confused with central idea, and the reason is logical. A central idea is like a theme in the sense that both are topics or ideas brought up by a text. However, that's where the central idea stops. It's just that: the idea that is central and important in a text. It is frequently brought up and exemplified, explored through several scenes. These can often be generic concepts or idioms. So what's the difference? A central idea brings up a topic. The theme is what the specific text has to say about it through the events that play out. The universal theme statement is presenting the theme in a full sentence that can then be related to by any human being reading it. Examples Example I: A Good Man is Hard to Find In the short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find", one of the central ideas is family. The story goes into detail through the many interactions the grandmother and her family members have . The idea of family is present in how the kids respond to things, as well as through the grandmother's personality, priorities, and dialogue with family members/other characters. This is one of the central ideas of the text, and how it is presented.

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    Now, to turn this into a theme, figure out what "A Good Man is Hard to Find" has to say about family. The scenes mentioned above discuss how family is not a strong bond, as is often the case in movies or other stories, but merely a formality that can be glanced over in the pursuit of one's own ambitions and interests. The kids are a reflection of their upbringing, so looking at their bombastic, selfish, macabre, rude, and generally unlikeable attitude, as well as their constant need to resort to pestering and nuisance to gain attention from the adults, we can safely assume they are often ignored or talked down to. Likewise, the grandmother gets on everyone s nerves, especially Bailey's, as she is very opinionated, narcissistic, and self-serving. How can this apply to everyone reading? Family has always meant to be a safe haven from the real world. You see the picture of the mom, the dad, the kids playing, and life seems great. Many may have this life. However, this is not always the case. There are some family members that have irreconcilable differences. Some families are broken. Some only meet for special occasions. Some show an interest only when it's necessary or when something can be gained from the interaction. Some kids are spoiled, some are selfish, some are self- less. The concepts we figured out for the theme are: * Families can be annoying * Road trips with family can drive people insane * Kids can be mean or rude * The older generation can be stuck in their ways * Some people won't listen * Families don't always look out for each other * Kids are a reflection of their parents * Family is a bond Turn this into a sentence. This can be done in several different ways. Here are some examples: * Family is a bond, but sometimes in a heavy, negative, and inescapable way. * Kids pick up everything from their parents, even if they are often ignored. * Sticking to the older way of doing things isn't always the best thing to do. * Family should mean more to you than yourself, or else you may just lose your family.

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    We have taken a central idea of a text and turned it into a theme and developed a theme statement. Let's try another. Example II: A Rose for Emily A different central idea from "A Rose for Emily" is death. The subject is brought up through not only the death of Emily herself, but her father and her lover die as well. We never see things from her perspective as well, which means we have the town's POV to analyze for this one. So how can this be related to? We have to look at the concept and see what the text says about it. How people handle death is touched upon. Do people deserve death and who is responsible forthat is brought up. Do all of the dead deserve respect? These are some ways to come at this particular central idea from a theme standpoint Let s choose how people handle death, as that one everyone can relate to. Emily handles death with a naive disbelief, seeing someone's death as a reason they are taken away from her. She defends this vehemently, trying in desperation to keep the bodies with her even after the person has expired. She has such a difficult time accepting they're gone, and this is something relatable. Seme other people, when family members die, only see the money or possessions they will receive after. The town sees her death as a source of fascination, like when a celebrity dies - our society mourns them as their own. yet 99% of the people who mark that person's passing never met the person or weren't a part of their daily lives. Celebrity, though crosses some borders emotionally with people, who feel as though they are a part of another's life through the media presence and illusion of interaction through social media. Other people may feel guilty after the death of a loved one, even if there was nothing they could do to help. The statement takes one of those concepts and writes it out as a lesson. A few of these might be: * Death can be hard to accept for some people, with some never accepting it. * Death can be a source of interest, especially when a celebrity passes away. * When someone dies, some believe that person never really leaves you.

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