Theme
The theme of a story is the central subject or idea it conveys. The theme of Aesop's fable 'The Hare and the Tortoise' is a moral: 'Slow and steady wins the race.' One way to identify theme in a story is to consider:
- the role of the main character in the story - did he or she learn anything through the course of the story?
- the conflict and how it is resolved.
The theme of a narrative is summed up in a statement, rather than in a single word. For example,
'War is a waste of life and causes great suffering'.
Follow the instructions below to access a site where you can read and listen to some of Aesop's fables.
- Open the link www.aesopfables.com and scroll down to the list of fables.
- Select those that indicate they have audio (Sections 1, 2, 3, 4).
- Read or listen to the fables and think about their themes.
What are they attempting to 'teach' the listener or reader? In your journal, note the title and the theme of each fable you read or listen to.
