Theme vs. Central Idea
True or False:
Theme and Central Idea are the same thing.
What is False?
These stories have characters that are brave enough to overcome a situation that is fearful, dangerous, or difficult.
What is courage/bravery?
Mrs. Smith was doing a unit on eating healthy foods. One day, her students saw her at the mall eating junk foods, which was exactly what she told them not to do. Sally was going to get a salad, until she saw her teaching eating junk food. Then, she decided to get the same thing her teacher had gotten. What is the theme of this story?
1. Actions speak louder than words
2. Never meet your hero
3. Vegetables are good for you
What is...1. Actions speak louder than words
Which theme best matches with the quote from the story Hatchet: " A hundred funny cartoons he had seen about skunks... but when the spray hit there was nothing funny about it - he was completely blind for almost two hours."
1. Taking time to build something makes it more meaningful.
2. Nature is harsher in real life.
3. Feeling sorry for yourself won't solve your problems.
4. Skunk spray is bad for your eyes.
2. Nature is harsher in real life.
Achilles and the River Styx
Once there was a great warrior named Achilles. When Achilles was a baby, his mother dipped him in the River Styx. The river's magical water could protect a person from any harm.
There was one problem, though. Achilles's mother held him by the heel when she dipped him in the river. His heel never got wet, and so his heel was not protected by the water's magic.
After Achilles grew up, a war began between the Greeks and a city called Troy. Achilles was the most powerful fighter of all the Greeks. Troy was a great city with strong, high walls, and the Greeks had trouble capturing it. But as long as Achilles was fighting for the Greeks, the people of Troy could not drive them away. The war went on for ten years. The fierce Achilles seemed impossible to beat.
Finally, the prince of Troy shot an arrow at Achilles. The arrow hit Achilles right in his heel, his one weak spot. Achilles was killed by the arrow, and the Greeks lost their great hero.
What is the main theme or lesson of the myth?
1. It's better to live and die than to live forever.
2. The life of a soldier or fighter always ends sadly.
3. Even the strongest people have weak points
4. Cheating with magic isn't fair.
What is...3. Even the strongest people have weak points
This is the main point or what the story is mostly about
What is Central Idea?
These stories have characters that accept the differences and beliefs of others.
What is acceptance?
Julia wanted to become a doctor for as long as she could remember. Anytime her friends were hanging out at the mall, she was always at home studying. When Julia graduated, she graduated with high honors and was offered a job not long after graduating. What is the theme?
1. Studying is important
2. It is important to go to college
3. Hard work pays off
What is...3. Hard work pays off
Which theme best matches with the quote from the story Bridge to Terabithia: " As for the terrors ahead - for he did not fool himself that they were all be hid him - well, you just have to stand up to your fear and not let it squeeze you white."
1. Jesse has to face his fear.
2. Success creates a desire for more success.
3. Learning to face the things that scare you is a part of life.
4. A good companion can show you new things about yourself.
3. Learning to face the things that scare you is a part of life.
Why the Bat Flies at Night
Once upon a time, there was a war between the animals of the air and the animals of the land. The eagle would hunt and eat the rabbit. The owl was never safe from the fox.The bat had wings like the flying animals, but it had teeth like the land animals. Unsure which side to join, the bat joined whichever side was winning. When the air animals were ahead, the bat fought along with the air animals. When the land animals won a battle, the bat joined them.After many years, both sides decided to end the war. There was peace across the earth. But the animals could not forget what the bat had done. Both the air animals and the land animals felt tricked by the bat. They decided to drive the bat away.And that is why the bat hides away during the day and goes out only at night.What is the main theme or lesson of the fable?
1. People shouldn't go to war to settle their differences.
2. People who aren't true to their friends will end up with no one.
3. War will solve nothing.
4. It is better to be on the winning side than to be on the right side.
What is...2. People who aren't true to their friends will end up with no one.
This is the lesson learned or moral of the story
What is Theme?
These stories have characters who are ready for any situation that comes their way.
What is prepardness?
Growing up, Sally never felt as good as her older sister Mary. Mary always got better grades, was better at sports, and was prettier. Sally spent a lot of time in the family's garden crying and feeling sorry for herself. One day, Mary needed help with a science project about plants. Because of all the time Sally had spent in the garden, she was able to help Mary with her project. For the first time, Sally felt like she was better at something than Mary. What is the theme?
1. Sports aren't everything
2. Always be yourself
3. You can learn a lot from nature
What is...2. Always be yourself
Which theme best matches with the quote from the story Percy Jackson: "In a strange way, I was glad that Poseidon was so distant. If he'd tried to apologize... it wouldn've felt fake.
1. Love is believing in people's strengths
2. There are some things you must face alone.
3. Don't pretend to feel something you don't.
4. Percy is angry at Poseidon for being a neglectful father.
3. Don't pretend to feel something you don't.
Daedalus and Icarus
Daedalus and his son Icarus were trapped on the island of Crete by King Minos. One day Daedalus saw a flock of birds in the sky. This gave him an idea. He would make two pairs of wings so that they could escape from the island.
For weeks Daedalus gathered all the feathers he could find on the ground. He glued them together with wax. Finally, he and Icarus put on the wings. Daedalus told Icarus, "Do not fly too close to the sun, or the wax will melt."
Daedalus and Icarus flapped their arms as fast as they could. They soared into the sky! As they flew upward, the island of Crete grew smaller below them. But Icarus was so excited about flying that he kept going higher and higher. "No, Icarus, no!" Daedalus shouted.
It was too late. The sun had already begun to melt the wax. The feathers blew away, and Icarus fell into the sea.
What is the main theme or lesson of the myth?
1. Don't be too bold.
2. Icarus didn't listen to his father's warnings.
3. Freedom comes at a cost
4. You have to be creative to escape an island.
What is...3. Freedom comes at a cost
Is a story's theme usually depicted through one word? Explain your reasoning.
What is no, because then it would be a topic. A theme is a full sentence that is based on the topic.
These stories have characters who work together to achieve a goal or solve a problem
What is teamwork/collaboration?
A monkey put his hand into the cookie jar and tried to pull out a handful of cookies. He grasped as many as he could, but when he went to pull his hand out, it got stuck. The monkey didn't want to let go of the cookies, but he wasn't able to get his hand out. The monkey began crying, because he didn't know what to do. What is the theme?
1. No legacy is so rich as honesty.
2. If you are greedy, you may end up with nothing.
3. Greed creates greatness.
What is...2. If you are greedy, you may end up with nothing.
Which theme best matches with the quote from the story Wonder: "We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the masks."
1. Augie wished that he didn't have to look different from others.
2. Judge people based on who they are, not how they appear.
3. Our actions can influence people for a long time.
4. It can be comforting to hide from others.
2. Judge people based on who they are, not how they appear.
The Fox and the Stork
There once was a clever fox who loved playing tricks. He invited his friend the stork over for dinner one day. When dinner was served, the poor bird saw that the meal was soup served in a flat dish. Try as she might, the stork could not drink the soup with her long, thin beak.
"I'm sorry you aren't enjoying the dinner," the fox said, laughing to himself over his trick.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," the stork said, acting very polite. "You must join me for dinner next time."
Soon the stork invited the fox to her house for dinner. The fox had worked hard all day and was very hungry. But when the stork brought out the food, the fox got a surprise. The dinner was served in tall, narrow jars. With her long beak, the stork had no trouble gobbling up the tasty food. The fox's mouth did not fit in the jar, so he went home hungry.
What is the main theme or lesson of the fable?
1. Even though people are different, they can still be friends.
2. Expect others to treat you the way you treat them.
3. Playing tricks on others can lead to retaliation.
4. It is important to eat from the right type of dish.
What is...2.Expect others to treat you the way you treat them.
Look at the list of questions. What will these questions help you determine?
What important part of life is the story about?
How did the characters grow or change?
What message is the author trying to send?
What is Theme?
These stories have characters who keep trying and never give up, no matter how many times they have to try.
What is perseverance?
One day, a cat was sitting in the grass. A dog walked by and happened to see the cat. The dog walked over, thinking the cat wanted to play. The cat got mad, because the dog interrupted its nap, so the cat bit the dog's tail! What is the theme?
1. Don't get too close to a sleeping cat
2. Mind your business.
3. Even though you have good intentions, others may not.
What is...3. Even though you have good intentions, others may not.
Which theme best matches with the quote from the story Flowers for Algernon: "There are a lot of people who will give money or materials, but very few who will give time and affection."
1. You should give money to those in need.
2. Learning should help you examine your beliefs.
3. Progress is based on the work of others.
4. The most meaningful gift is showing that you care.
4. The most meaningful gift is showing that you care.
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Once upon a time, there was a very hungry wolf. He liked nothing more than to feast on a nice, tasty sheep. But the wolf could never get to the sheep because the shepherd was always watching the flock.
One day the wolf saw a sheepskin lying near the field where the shepherd kept the sheep. This gave him an idea. He put on the sheepskin and walked into the field. The shepherd did not notice the wolf dressed up like a sheep. The wolf was able to lead a lamb away from the flock and eat it for dinner.
The next day the wolf went back for another meal. He put on the sheepskin and joined the flock. But the wolf was not the only one hungry this time. The shepherd was planning his dinner and needed a sheep for a stew. So he picked up his knife and went into the flock. The first sheep he came across was really the wolf, who ended up in the shepherd's pot that night.
What is the main theme or lesson of the fable?
1. Tricking others will only hurt you in the end.
2. If you lie, people will stop trusting you
3. Being clever will get you what you want.
What is...1.Tricking others will only hurt you in the end.