How do I identify and analyse key themes in a text?

Firstly, read through the text to see if there are any recurring ideas or anything that sticks out to you. Make sure to highlight, and make a note of them on a piece of paper. Texts often have have multiple themes, so don't be afraid to be wrong, as long as you can back your point up with a quotation from the text and explain why it relates to your chosen theme.

For example, in William Shakespeare's Othello, Iago is fuelled by jealousy after being overlooked for a promotion by Othello. Iago also convinces Othello that his wife has been unfaithful; resulting in Othello's jealousy slowly building up throughout the play. In highlighting the existence of jealousy in the play, you need to support your idea with a quotation from the text. Don't be afraid to use explicit quotations, for example, "O, beware my lord of jealousy", as it is a great way of supporting your point. This particular quote is one of the most effective ways to show Iago's manipulation of Othello, whilst also pin pointing the theme of jealousy.