Theme
What is the theme of a story?
The lesson or moral that the author wants us to remember and apply in our own lives.
Joe felt anguish when his dog died. He'd had his dog for 13 years. What does "anguish" mean?
Extreme pain, sadness and suffering
The black plague swept through Europe in the Middle Ages killing millions of people. In some villages, half the population PERISHED.
Died
What is the main idea?
1-2 sentence description of what the story is about
What is the theme of "Little Red Riding Hood"?
Don't talk to strangers.
Can a novel have more than 1 theme?
YES!
My objective was to get to work on time each day, so I would not get fired. What does "objective" mean?
Goal
'Cause we're young and we're reckless
We'll take this way too far
It'll leave you breathless,
Or with a nasty scar
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
What does reckless mean?
Careless, irresponsible, impulsive, wild
_____ is general.
_____ is specific.
_____ is universal.
Topic is general
Main idea is specific
Theme is universal
A young boy discovers that he is a wizard and must fight dark forces to save himself and his friends from an evil and powerful wizard...who must not be named... This is an example of
A Theme
B Topic
C Main Idea
D. Author's Purpose
A story theme may be difficult to figure out because...
It is not explicitly stated in the text
The gymnast was so agile. I was amazed at the graceful way she moved during the floor routine. What does "agile" mean?
Flexible, able to bend and move in many ways.
What does the word obsolete mean?
No longer produced or used; out of date
What is the main difference between theme and main idea?
The theme is a universal lesson and the main idea is a brief or short summary of what a story is about.
The topic of a story is typically how long.
1-2 words
A monkey put his hand into the jar of cookies. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the cookie jar. Unwilling to lose the cookies, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and cried bitterly. What is the theme?
A. Eating cookies can be dangerous.
B. If you are greedy, you might get everything
C. Don't put your hand in a jar
D. None of the above
D. None of the above
To satisfy the nervous new parents, the doctor performed a painstaking exam of the baby, to ensure it was healthy. What does "painstaking" mean?
Careful, thorough, taking a lot of care
The snow was a MARVEL to look at as it glistened in the bright sun. What does "MARVEL" mean?
Admirable, astonishing, amazing
School uniforms are far cheaper than the currently popular fashions. Many students work long hours at a paying job instead of doing homework because they feel they have to "keep up appearances." If students wore uniforms, there would be no need for most of them to have jobs that take away from their study time.
A. Popular fashions being expensive
B. School uniforms being a good idea.
C. Students working many hours at jobs.
D. Teens enjoying wearing uniforms.
B. School uniforms being a good idea.
Even though Paul was excited about the project, he wanted the other kids to think he was cool, so he answered the teacher's question in a NONCHALANT tone. What would be a synonym for NONCHALANT?
Relaxed, cool, calm
One winter, a monkey found a snake stiff and frozen. The monkey felt sorry for the snake and so he picked the snake up and held it to his chest to try to warm it. The snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and because of its instincts, bit the monkey with all its might. What is the theme?
A. Even though you have good intentions, others may not
B. Don't hold snakes
C. Snakes are dangerous.
D. Intentions are good
E. Both A and D
A Even though you have good intentions, others may not
Joe pledged his allegiance to his new team, even though, he missed many members of his old team. What does "allegiance" mean?
Loyalty or devotion
What is the theme of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"?
Greed leads to disaster
Virginia Hamilton started writing at a young age. People in her family were great storytellers. She loved to listen to their tales about her African-American heritage. When she grew up, Hamilton brought the tales to life in stories. Now she is a famous writer of books for children. What does this passage mainly tell about?
A. How family stories led to her writing career
B. How Hamilton's family told stories
C. What kind of tales Hamilton's family told
D. When Virginia Hamilton started writing
A. How family stories led to her writing career
List the 3 "things" we can identify from a story in the following order...
1. most general
2. Universal
3. Specific
1. Topic
2. Theme
3. Main Idea