Learning Goal: Understand theme as conveyed through characters, actions, and images.
Please read pages 220-221 of our blue Holt Elements of Literature textbook for more information about theme. According to our textbook:
The plot of a story is only what happens in it.
The theme is what the story reveals about life.
What happens in a story may help readers infer the theme, but the theme goes beyond the specific story to state a truth about real life. A life lesson.
To discover the theme of a story, the reader will have to ‘read between the lines.’ Authors don’t usually come right out and state the theme word for word. Authors want us to infer the theme based on what the character discovers or how they change.
The lesson a character learns can be stated as a theme. Always state the theme as a complete sentence.
Remember that plot is what happens in a story and theme is what the story reveals about life.
1. What is one major theme of the novel?
2. Support your answer by referring to a significant part of the plot.
I think the theme for uglies is your beauty is on the inside. Its a life lesson because somone may be ugly but if they are nice and have a good personality thats all that counts
ReplyDeleteJessica M. Period One
we agree with jessica m beacuase its about the beauty of people!!!
ReplyDelete~ CHRISTINA N. AND ANDI S. FROM BLOCK 6
Appearance
ReplyDeleteThe Government tries to control just about everything including how they look and they try to make everybody look the same.
I think the theme is Aperence because Tally always wanted to be pretty and no one but pretties looked good to her but david turned into a prettie ( from her perspective )
ReplyDeleteAndrew Stewart
They try to give everybody the surgery so they will look generally the same
ReplyDeleteone major topic in the book uglies is truth and lies. the theme that goes with this topic is that little white lies have big consequences. this goes with the part of the plot when tally finds out about the brain lesions in the pretties. all this time they have been controlling the cities.
ReplyDeleteMargaret k. Tarah E. Period 1
I can't think of a movie or a song with the same theme statement so if u have any ideas post it.
ReplyDeleteA theme is "you should be able to choose what you do in your life."
ReplyDelete"We don't have to look like everyone else, Tally, and act like everyone else. We've got a choice. We can grow up any way we want.
TrEvOr ThOmPsOn
PROCRASTINATORS UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!... tommorow.
The theme of the novel is it doesnt matter what you look like on the outside its just whats in the inside. To support this i will use david when he says "tally you are beautiful just the way you are" even though she is a uglie. Its also like in the song "beautiful" by Christina Aguillera.
ReplyDeleteThe one word that I chose for Uglies is beliving.
ReplyDeleteI think the theme of Uglies is 'What others may think of you is their opinion, while the only one that matters is what you think about yourself.' I relate this to the part where Tally met the parents of David, and David said "Your brainwashed into belivieng your ugly" and Tally dosent belive him.
~Evan M; 1st period
one major topic in uglies is free will. the theme statement that goes with this topic is never let anyone control you,you are yourself.a major part of uglies that goes with this is when tally goes against the goverment and choses to be herself not what they want her to be.
ReplyDeleteAnna S.
I think the theme for Uglies is dont judge a book by its cover. it is a life lesson because you dont judge someone by there appearance but by the inside. I would refer to the part of the book on page 276 when even that there wrer scratches on her face she was still beutiful
ReplyDeleteJacob-- seems like you have responded with plot events. Do these support a theme. Plot is what happens. Theme is the life lesson.
ReplyDeleteI think the topic of Uglies is Acceptance. I think this is because nobody acceptence anybody as they are when they're uglie. They call eachother name, so the theme is "Sticks and stones might brake my bones but words will never hurt me"
ReplyDeleteby: Madddie, Hope and Shelby 2nd period
The topic of this story is Choice or Appearence. The theme would probably be beauty is on the inside. "That's the worst thing they do to you, to any of you. Whatever those brain lesions are all about, the worst damage is done before they pick up the knife: You're all brainwashed into believing you're ugly." (Page 276) They all think they're ugly, when in truth they are just normal.
ReplyDeleteEmily F. & Emily L. Period 2!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG! Please check your spelling:)
ReplyDeleteWe think the topic is acceptance because the story is about who is ugly and who is pretty.The children are nurtured into thinking they were ugly as started on page 262 . The theme is dont belive every thing your parents tell you because tallys parents tell her she is ugly and soon she will be pretty.block2
ReplyDeleteIthink the movie that goes with our topic and theme is Mean Girls.
ReplyDeleteMaddie, Hope and Shelby 2nd period
I think it's about being yourself than being a clone of something else others want to be apart of.
ReplyDeleteMarissa from period 4-- I agree that one theme could be "Be Yourself!" I like the word 'clone' in your comment. However, what topic would this fall under? What specific plot event would support this theme?
ReplyDeleteI say the theme of uglies is illusion, and the theme is 'Things may not be what they seem to be'. A movie that has this topic and theme is THE MATRIX.In both uglies and the matrix, someone, or someTHING,is providing an illusion for the human race, and not showing them the outsied/real world.
ReplyDeletePeace out yo!!! XD Rosie m. block 4
hello people who r readinginging this paper thingy . ok so me (megan donnelly) and erika thinks that ummm the theme of the book uglies is ..... thinking, still thinking..... ummmm......... the theme is perfectsionism and megans theme is apperince . we think that because they are so woried about there apperinse in the book they all want too be what they think is pretty. Right
ReplyDeletei love the movie mean girls !!!!! ( to shelby , hope and maddie )
ReplyDeleteOkay.... Ummm.... Erika and Megan- A theme statement is one sentence long. It is a lesson we are to learn after reading the book. What you gave me were possible topics. Now, go with the topic of perfectionism... what lesson does the book teach us about perfectionism? What lesson does the book teach us about appearance. Wow... please watch your spelling!
ReplyDeletethe plot event is that being pretty should be the choice of people instead of by force like when the specials came to the smoke and took them away to make them pretty even though they don't want to.
ReplyDeleteMarissa Period 4
main idea:idenity or appearance
ReplyDeletetheme:it doesnt matter what is on the out side it only matters what is on the inside.
Katie semus and Jenna Rodenbaugh block 6 uglies
Matthew and Katie & Jenna-- Your topics and themes sound right on. However, what plot events support those themes? Can you think of a movie or another book with the same theme?
ReplyDeleteThere is a book we read called The Clique....and they think that everything in life is all about being pretty and fashionable. Just like Tally Youngblood in the beggining of the UGLIES.
ReplyDeleteKatie S. And Jenna R. PERIOD 6
Topic:Differences
ReplyDeleteBecause The society makes a big deal over differences(uglies and pretties).Our theme statemeant is: Being different is okay and don't let differences change the way you think.
From:Sarah And Hanna 6th block :)
We think the theme is actually a combination of two. Individuality, and acceptance. This is because, in uglies, no one really accepts the uglies (12 year olds to 15 year olds) for who they are. they can't just accept that they are different from other people and have their own characteristics that might not be perfect. this goes along with individuality because everyones different and needs to be accepted for who they are. all the pretties look the same in addition their thoughts are the same because theyre so brainwashed into thinking the exact same thing all the time.
ReplyDeleteELIZABETH AND FIONA--BLOCK 6
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............................................. Not really but I think that I've seen a movie that had a theme something like that
ReplyDeleteI just can't remember the movie's name :(
-matthew h period 6
I think that the theme is whats on the inside is what counts. For example in the end third quarter David says whats inside you matters a lot more. Tim M.period 6
ReplyDeleteSArah and Hanna from 6th block, we really like your theme statement and we think that is totally true.
ReplyDeleteKatie S and Jenna R Period:6
Elizabeth and Fiona-- So the possible topics (not themes) could be individuality or acceptance. I think your theme statement is burried in there somewhere. Is your theme statement "Everyone is different and needs to be acepted for who they are" ?? Could you organize your thoughts in this way to make meaning more clear?
ReplyDeleteTopic:
Theme:
Supporting Plot Events:
Topic: individuality and acceptance
ReplyDeleteTheme: people should accept you for the different person you are.
ELIZABETH AND FIONA--BLOCK 6
Margaret k and jessica m I so so so so so agree. I would say one of the themes is "trust" Can David realyl trust Tally? What about Shay, can she trust Tally? But David trusted Tally more than Shay apparently because he brought her to his parents.
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
I think the the theme is life is full of tuff choices but you have to follow your heart and do what you think is right.
ReplyDeleteHolly L. period 7
I am doing my Theme Chart on Apperance. Even though I am doing that, I believe the theme is don't judge a book by its cover. Tally had been brain washed (not literally because she didn't have the operation but she has been growing up in beleiving that no one is pretty unless they had the operation). She finds beauty in David though and that reveals the theme and also it reveals her character.
ReplyDeleteAlexis Metcalf
Block 7
Carly from period 7-- What lesson is the author trying to teach us about trust?
ReplyDeleteIf someone says they trust you or it shows that they do make sure you won't dissapoint them. And if you know they shou8ldn't trust you tell them. I think Tally did the right thing by later just giving up being pretty to be with the people she thinks she belongs with but she didn't know that Special Circumstances woulkd come. Sorry off topic. :)
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
I think the theme of Uglies is true beauty. It dosen't matter what is on the outside , how you look or how you dress. What matters is on the inside , how your personality is.
ReplyDelete*****KYLEA HURLA*******
******period 7*******
Maragaret and Tarah,
ReplyDeleteI agree completley with you! Truth is what Tally should have done in the first place and she should have told the Smokies about the pendant. Like stated in the book "I should have told them in the first place, Tally thought, they probably would have put the pendant on a bird and let it migrate and it would have thrown the Specials way off track." She lied though and it caused her "home" to be torn apart and David (as well as his friends) lifes to be ruined.
Alexis Metcalf
Block 7
I really like your comment Alexis Metcalf. It is really good.:)
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
i agree with every one that said the theme is that it doesnt matter what you look like it matters who you are and if you have a good personality, pretty is not about what you look like its your attitude and personality that counts and is what makes a person pretty.
ReplyDeleteNaomi Rambo
Period 7
Kylea from period 7- So the topic would be true beauty. The lesson to learn about true beauty would be 'it doesn't matter what is on the outside.'
ReplyDeleteCan you support your theme by referring to the book?
I think the BIG idea is choice. So far the first plot event would be to oice to go with shay or become pretty. The sencond one would be to activate the pendent. The third one would be to leave or stay with shay and david. The forth one would be tell the everyone about the leisons.
ReplyDeleteHolly L. Period 7
I agree also. Tally didn't know how Smokies really lived and what their purpose really was. I would have like thrown the pendant far away but that wouldn't make the book the book right? Some of the things she said about lying about coming there will make it harder because if someone brings that statement back up she will have to refer to that.
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
I think one possible theme would be Individuality because, even though people look different on the outside, we are all the same on the inside because we are all human, we make mistakes and we don't always know everything.
ReplyDelete__Caitlin M.___ 7th Block.
I agree with kylea h. because it sort of tells the story.
ReplyDeleteHolly L. period 7
Yes Holly I agree because Tally has to choose to turn pretty but go and reveal the smoke or don't and NEVER turn pretty.
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
I think the theme is is just because you look different doesn't mean theres something wrong with you.
ReplyDelete~LAUREN H.~ Period 7
a song for this book would be just the way you are by Bruno Mars
ReplyDeletenaomi rambo
period 7
Caitin from period 7-- The topic would be individuality. Remember that the topic is one word long and the theme is one sentence long. What plot events support your thinking?
ReplyDeleteSupport: When David and Tally are talking after meeting with Davids parents he says shes beautiful. And Tally says sarcastically " My thin lips and squished down nose are real beautiful." And David says " No. It's your outlook on the world."
ReplyDelete********KYLEA H.*********
*******Period 7*********
Also I think a book that could relate to this one (text to text) is Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies. This book is about a girl who thinks she is 'fat'. She goes home and eats chocolate cookies and ice cream and then she starts beleiving that everyone should be pretty and equal and starts thinking up stunts to figure out how to be pretty and she makes a group to make people pretty like buying them hair dye, etc.
ReplyDeleteAlexis M.
Block 7
I think carly s. is a good topic and goes good with the story.
ReplyDeleteHolly L. period 7
Caitlyn that is sooo true!
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
Thanks Carly! This is the best book I think I have ever read. It is so mysterious and leaves you waiting for more. I can't wait to check out Pretties!
ReplyDeleteAlexis M.
Block 7
Jenna R and Katie S I don't really agree I read the book and this one and that book just don't connect for me.Sorry!:(
ReplyDeleteCarly Schmit
7th Period
Here are a few more ideas for topics and themes of this novel. Use these ideas and others posted here by fellow bloggers to help you choose one to develop.
ReplyDeleteTopic: Appearance Theme: It is not what is on the outside that matters. What is on the inside is what matters.
Topic: Self Confidence Theme: Love yourself for who you are.
Topic: Appearance Theme: There is more to a person than just looks
Topic: Perspective Theme: There is always another side to every argument or situation