Identifying Theme
The theme of a story is the ________ message or lesson the author wants you to learn.
central or life lesson/message.
The main idea is what the text is mostly about, while the theme is the ________ lesson.
life or moral lesson.
To find the theme, you must look for ________ from the story.
clues / events / character actions / text evidence.
theme that is found across many cultures and time periods is called a ________.
universal theme.
When you infer theme, you are making an educated guess based on ________ and ________.
character actions / plot / events / details.
True or False: The theme is always stated directly in the text.
False. Theme is often implied.
A story about a dog finding its way home has a main idea of “a dog’s journey” and a theme of ________.
loyalty, determination, or perseverance.
Highlight this evidence: “Every time Tom tried to help, he learned a lesson about kindness.” What theme could this suggest?
Kindness is important / Helping others is rewarding.
Examples of universal themes include love, friendship, courage, and ________.
honesty, perseverance, or kindness.
If a character learns that stealing causes unhappiness, what theme can you infer?
Stealing has consequences / Honesty is better.
In a story where a character learns that honesty is important, the theme could be:
Honesty is valuable / Always tell the truth.
True or False: Theme can be a one-word answer like “love” or “friendship.”
True.
True or False: You can determine theme without considering the story’s events and character actions.
False. Theme depends on events and characters.
True or False: Universal themes only appear in fiction stories.
False. They can appear in nonfiction, poetry, and other texts.
True or False: Theme inference requires thinking about characters, plot, and conflicts.
True.
Which of these is a theme?
a) Jenny rides her bike every day
b) Hard work leads to success
c) The story takes place in a park
b) Hard work leads to success.
How is the main idea different from the theme?
The main idea tells what the story is about; the theme tells the lesson or message.
How does a character’s change from the beginning to the end help reveal the theme?
It shows what the character learned, which reflects the lesson or theme.
Which universal theme fits a story where a community comes together to rebuild after a disaster?
Cooperation / Community / Helping others.
How can the setting of a story contribute to inferring the theme?
The setting can show challenges or situations that reveal lessons or messages.
In a story about a boy who keeps trying despite repeated failure, what theme does the story likely suggest?
Perseverance leads to success / Never give up.
If the main idea is "A girl overcomes her fear of public speaking," what could the theme be?
Courage helps you overcome challenges.
Quote: “Even when she felt like giving up, Maria kept helping her friends.” What theme is supported by this evidence?
Perseverance / Helping others is valuable.
Name a universal theme in a story where a character must choose between doing what is easy and what is right.
Integrity / Doing the right thing.
A story shows a character being selfish, then learning generosity leads to happiness. What is the inferred theme?
Generosity brings happiness / Helping others is rewarding.