You can’t have a sturdy house without a solid foundation. The theme is like the electrical system that runs throughout the entire building. The floors and walls of your story are the external conflict, internal conflict, characters, plot elements, setting, and more. This foundation supports every other part of the story. When you have a clear central idea for your story, you have laid the foundation. Imagine writing a story is like building a house. You can’t have a cohesive story without the central idea as a starting point. The theme and message all come from the central idea. The Importance of a Central Idea in a Story You can see how these differ from the central idea statement, which dealt with the story’s main character and plot. There’s a message or moral there too: Be considerate of other people. The theme is the effect of selfishness on others. Let’s return to our example of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They are specific to an individual story. Themes often have a message for readers from the author.Įxamples of literary themes include courage, friendship, revenge, and power.Ĭentral ideas are not generic. A literary theme is a generic truth found in many stories. The theme, on the other hand, is the unifying element or elements weaved into a story. The central idea addresses the main ideas of the plot. These two literary elements are closely related but distinct. People often confuse the central idea with a story’s theme. The central idea doesn’t give away “spoilers” by revealing what happens in the story’s climax when the bears come home. We briefly summarize the plot and hint that there will be consequences to Goldilocks’ actions. We don’t explore every individual event of the story or even dive into the themes. Let’s use Goldilocks and the Three Bears as an example.Ī girl named Goldilocks enters a house in the woods, helps herself to porridge, and breaks furniture, not knowing the house belongs to three bears. In other words, if someone asks what the story is about, the central idea is what you would tell them.įairy tales are a great way to understand literary elements. You can think of the central idea as a very brief summary of a story. All plot lines, supporting details, and conflicts support the central idea. The definition of the central idea is a statement that explains the main scenario of a story. Examples of the Central Idea of a StoryĬentral Idea Definition: What Is It in a Story?.Tips on Using Central Ideas in Your Story.The Importance of a Central Idea in a Story.Central Idea Meaning: What Does It Mean?.Central Idea Definition: What Is It in a Story?.
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