Themes

 

Topic + Insight = Theme

 

- A theme is not 'family' or 'trust'.

- A theme might be 'A person needs to learn how to trust themselves and one another.'

 

 

'Family' or 'trust' are TOPICS.

 

 

Let's determine some of the themes on Parvana.

 

In pairs:

 

First step:

Write down a list of topics from the text. For example: family, war, education, etc.

 

 

Second Step:

Now think about what the author (Deborah Ellis) is trying to say about this topic.

 

Third Step:

To help you determine this, complete the sentence:

 

'Deborah Ellis believes...'

 

 

For example:

'Deborah Ellis believes in the importance of education and literacy for everyone.'

 

Now all we have to do is cross out 'Deborah Ellis believes' and we have a theme!

 

 

'The importance of education and literacy for everyone'

 

This is a theme!

 

 

Now, it's your turn...

Select three of your topics that you think are the most important and write theme statements for them.

 

 

 

 

Let's share!

 

Write your theme statements onto one of the strips of paper

Glue them onto our class 'Theme Collage'.

 

 

 

Now let's look closer at some of the most prominent themes:

 

(Class to select three of the main themes, create poster for each)

 

1. Use the story to find events and characters that illustrate the themes

2. Find a quoatation that supports the themes

 

 

For example:

 

Parvana's father insists that Parvana continues to learn because he believes in education for all.

 

Quote: '...'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some themes:

children having
to act as adults; missing parents; definitions of family; the rights of children; the importance of literacy and
education; the effects of war on children; human bravery and resilience in desperate times; refugeeism.