THEME CONTENT DECISION TREE

(Note: To use the tree, a“yes” response leads to the next level in; a “no” response to the next level down unless the tree reaches a lowest level has two stacked theme contents in which case "yes" is the first, "no" is the second.)

I. The theme (concerning action, thought, or emotion) is one that is usually taken to be important primarily for individuals (whether or not the theme is embodied in individual characters in the narrative)

A. The theme is one that is usually taken to be important primarily for an individual and/or between individuals

1. The theme centers on taking voluntary, risky action to seek a good (action)

a) HEROISM

2. The theme centers on a change in the mentality of the individual (thought)

a) The change represents entrance into adulthood

(1) COMING OF AGE

(2) INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION

3. The theme centers on the desire of the individual toward others (emotion)

a) LOVE

B. The theme is one that is usually taken to be important primarily between the individual and something larger than the individual

1. The larger something is the setting rather than the social circumstances

a) HOMO RE NATURE

2. The larger something is the social circumstances

a) The theme concerns the desire to evade the social circumstances

(1) ESCAPISM

(2) INDIVIDUAL & SOCIETY

II. The theme is one that is usually taken to be important primarily for whole social groups and/or between groups

A. The theme concerns development within groups

1. The theme focuses on the patterns of development

a) EVOLUTION/PATTERN

b) PROGRESS

B. The theme concerns relations between groups

1. The groups are more or less comparable to each other

a) POWER STRUGGLE

b) ALIENNESS/DIFFERENCE

III. The theme is one that is usually taken to be important regardless of the groups or individuals that may be concerned with or embody it

A. The theme concerns the representation of facts, knowledge, or ideas

1. The representation is evaluated primarily by the abstract skill with which it is accomplished rather than by its instrumental effect

a) THE ARTS

b) COMMUNICATION

B. The theme concerns the acquisition, possession, or application of facts, knowledge, or ideas

1. The facts, knowledge or ideas concern the measurable, observable world

a) SCIENCE

2. The facts, knowledge or ideas concern the immeasurable, unobservable world

a) The knowledge depends on employing a distinction between the sacred and either the profane or the secular.

(1) THE SACRED

(2) PHILOSOPHY

IV. OTHER (if this code must be used, describe the Theme Content in the Notes field)