Theme Definition
Often found in fables like The Tortoise and the Hare, this synonym begins with an m and has five letters.
Moral
Sarah's room was a mess. She had books and papers all over her desk and toys were scattered across the floor. She had clothes stuffed under her bed and her dresser drawers were so crammed with things that she almost couldn't open them. Now her assignment was due and it was missing. She looked everywhere in her backpack and in her room. It was nowhere to be found. What is the theme?
Neatness counts!
Snow White
It is good to have friends (7 Dwarfs). You can appeal to the goodness in everyone(Huntsman). Just because you are insecure doesn't justify being mean (Evil Queen). Don't talk to strangers (Evil Queen disguised). True beauty comes from within (Mirror, mirror).
The crop that gives the most food to humans and animals in the United States is corn. Most of the corn grown is for use as animal feed. The farmers of the United States produce about one half of all the corn grown in the world. What is the main idea? a. Corn is grown as feed for humans and animals. b. Corn is grown all over the world. c. Corn is important as it is used for many things.
a. Corn is grown as feed for humans and animals.
The people or animals that act out the story.
The theme can often be a _______ _________. Hint: Two words that both begin with the letter L
Life lesson
James was a person everyone seemed to love. He went out of his way to help anyone that needed it. If someone dropped their books, he was there to help pick them up. If a new kid came to school, he made sure to include them at recess. One day James was playing soccer and broke his leg. He came to school on crutches, but it was hard to carry his stuff. The funny thing was, no matter where James went, everyone wanted to give him help.
Do unto others! Be nice to people and they will be nice to you!
Little Red Riding Hood
Don't trust strangers.
The time and the place of the story.
Setting
Theme is the _______ in a story
Message
Molly got a brand new puppy from the pound. She named him Max. Molly's parents told her that she could have a dog if she took care of it. Molly fed Max, gave him water each day, played with him, and even brushed his fur. The only thing she forgot to do was to close the back fence when he went outside one day. That's the day that Max got lost and it was the hardest day Molly ever experienced.
You have to be responsible.
The Three Little Pigs
Take your time and do something right the first time (brick house).
The person who writes the story and the person who draws the pictures for the story.
Author and Illustrator
True or False: The theme will be directly stated in the text.
False. The reader infers the theme.
Trevor stood at the edge of the mountain and looked down. He knew how dangerous a fall would be, but he made up his mind that he would have to carefully climb down a little to reach his sister who had slipped a few seconds before. No matter how much Trevor's heart raced, he knew that his sister was in trouble and that she needed him.
Be brave, even when you are scared. Have courage in scary situations.
Jack and the Bean Stalk
Good triumphs over evil (Jack vs. the Giant). Overcoming adversity (Jack was poor but becomes rich).
Cats are popular house pets. Cats come in a variety of colors. Some cats have long hair and some have short hair. There are cats that have no tails. Cats can have eyes of many different colors. A cat can be solid color, more than one color, or striped. What is the main idea? a. Cats make the best house pet. b. Cats are very similar. c. There is much variety in the cat family.
c. There is much variety in the cat family.
The events that happen in the story.
Plot
The problem the main character faces
The solution to the problem
Character traits
As Alice walked down the sidewalk to school, she noticed that Ryan dropped a $20 bill without noticing. As he continued walking to school, Alice bent down and picked up the money. She imagined all the things she could spend it on and how fun it would be to go shopping with her friends. Then she thought about Ryan and how he would feel when he found the money missing. Alice sighed and hurried to catch up to Ryan to give him his money back.
Cinderella
Kindness towards everyone matters. Forgive others for doing wrong. Don't let bad things ruin your heart.
Chocolate is a popular food. Today we think of it mainly as a candy. Years ago, it started out as a drink. All chocolate is made from the beans of the cacao tree. There are many steps to follow in turning cacao beans into the kind of chocolate we eat. What is the main idea? a. Making chocolate is a long process. b. Chocolate is high in vitamins. c. Chocolate has few uses.
a. Making chocolate is a long process.
The message that is in the story or what the story is about.
Theme