Theme vs Topic

In the beginning of class we started off by writing down the objective of the day. After that Mr. Rivers reminded us if we had any homework or makeup work and if so go and schedule a time to make it up. After Mr. Rivers said we were gonna learn the difference between topic and theme. On the board Mr. Rivers gave us the definition of topic and it is an idea or subject that occurs in the text while theme is a particular assertion about the topic. He explained that assert the root word of assertion is a claim and how it needs evidence to be proven to be a theme. He then went over to say how all our elementary teachers taught us wrong about themes and topics. He gave us three thematic myths that are wrong. Some notes I took down were...

1. There is only one (1) singular theme for a text → there is MANY themes (of varying importance)

2. A theme is a lesson → When you’re YOUNGER -- complex texts develop more complex themes

3. A theme can be one word long → NOPE! That’s a TOPIC!

He then gave examples of movies that had topics and themes incorporated into it. He used Charlie Brown’s Christmas and Die Hard. For Charlie Brown’s Christmas he wrote spending time with friends and family is more important than spending money. He said this was a theme because it had evidence in the film. He said a single text develops many topics like love, friendship, underdogs and etc, and how a theme asks “What ABOUT those topics”. He then went on to say that Die Hards theme was Christmas is the most dangerous time of the year. He said this theme was supported by evidence in the movie. We then disguised about No Country For Old Men. He read a dialogue from the diner scene where we talked about Charlie Walser slaughtering the livestock and how he got shot in the shoulder from the bullet ricocheting. He said the theme in the dialogue from Ed Tom Bell was, “The point being, that even in the contest of man and steer, the issue is not certain”, while he said the topics are livestock and Charlie Walser. He then made us break up into groups and discuss what are some topics and themes from No Country For Old Men. Mr. Rivers wanted us to enhance our thoughts and made us think of what are some concrete and abstract topics. Concrete is reoccuring while Abstract is once in awhile I wrote down…

Concrete:

• Guns - Dead People - Cattle Gun
• Money - Milk - The Cops

Abstract:

• Greed -Suspense - Stubbornness
• Chance - Authority - Mental Stability

To wrap up the end of the period he made us discuss if  “Drugs are bad” a theme or a topic. We all came to a conclusions and it was a topic and Mr. Rivers made us turn it into a theme. Our group came up with Drugs Lead To Violence.