Theme
The underlying message, moral, or "lesson learned" in a story.
What is theme?
This is the "paragraph" of a poem, a group of lines set off by a space.
What is a stanza?
A comparison of two unlike things using the words "like" or "as."
What is a simile?
When an author writes to convince the reader to believe or do something.
What is to persuade?
Unlike a summary, a theme must be a universal statement, meaning it applies to...
What is everyone (or the real world)?
Words like "buzz," "hiss," and "clatter" that imitate natural sounds.
What is onomatopoeia?
A direct comparison of two unlike things without using "like" or "as."
What is a metaphor?
When an author provides facts, statistics, or instructions about a topic.
What is to inform?
"Slow and steady wins the race" is a famous theme from this type of short story.
What is a fable?
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, such as "Peter Piper picked."
What is alliteration?
"The wind whispered through the trees" is an example of this.
What is personification?
When an author writes a story for the reader's enjoyment.
What is to entertain?
A theme should never include specific names of these two things from the story.
What are characters and settings?
A poem that tells a story and includes a plot, characters, and a setting.
What is a narrative poem?
Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
What is sense imagery?
A political speech or a commercial is written with this primary goal.
What is to persuade?
When a character discovers that lying leads to more trouble, the theme is likely about this.
What is honesty?
A three-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure, usually about nature.
What is a haiku?
A contradiction in terms, like "jumbo shrimp" or "deafening silence."
What is an oxymoron?
In a "Persuasive" text, the author often includes this—the main point they are trying to prove.
What is a claim (or argument)?