RL.10.2 – Theme Identification
The theme of a literary text is
What is the underlying message, lesson, or moral of the story?
When an author introduces the theme in the beginning of a story
What is through characters, setting, and conflict introduced early on?
What is exposition?
The central idea of an informational text
What is the main point or key message the author wants to convey about the topic?
Headings and subheadings help develop a central idea in order to
What is they organize information and highlight main ideas, making the central idea clearer?
The story describes a boy who keeps failing but never gives up. This theme suggests
What is perseverance or persistence leads to success.
A shift in a poem that begins with images of darkness and ends with light helps develop the theme
What is a movement from struggle to hope, reinforcing a theme of overcoming hardship?
The central idea of an article that explains the harmful effects of vaping on teens.
What is vaping poses serious health risks to teens?
An author begins with a personal story, then gives statistics to support the central idea
What is a story engages readers emotionally because statistics add credibility and strengthen the central idea?
A story shows how greed leads to a character’s downfall. The theme is
What is greed can lead to destruction or downfall?
A character’s conflicts reveal a story’s theme
What is by showing how characters respond to problems?
What is character interaction?
The central idea of a text that describes the history, dangers, and prevention methods of cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying is a significant problem, but it can be prevented through education and action?
Examples or anecdotes refine a central idea to
anecdote: a short account of a particular incident or event
What is they clarify and support the main point with real-world details?
In “Cinderella,” the theme is revealed through her kindness and ultimate reward.
What is kindness and patience are rewarded?
Repeated symbols or ideas help refine a theme
What is repeated symbols or ideas that emphasize key values and sharpen the theme?
What is repetition?
The central idea not the same as the topic is
What is subject?
Topic = subject
central idea = what the author says about that subject
An author’s conclusion shows the growth or change of a central idea
What is can summarize or expand on key points, showing how the main idea has evolved.
One might identify a theme without stating specific events from the story.
Look for patterns in characters’ actions, conflicts, and resolutions to infer a general message.
A theme can change or deepen as a story progresses through
What is characters gaining new understanding or circumstances may shift deepening the meaning?
Stating the central idea objectively.
-objectively: in a manner that is not influenced by personal prejudices
What is stating it in your own words without opinions or judgments?
Repeated key terms or phrases shape a text’s central idea through
What is repeated terms highlight important concepts that reinforce the central idea?