Summary
What is a summary
A brief statement about the main events of a story or event
What is main idea?
What the story is mainly about.
What is theme? Why do authors use themes in their stories?
Theme is the lesson or message an author wants the readers to take understand about the story.
To teach life lessons!
How is Main Idea different from theme?
Main idea is what a story is mostly about, while theme is lesson the main character learns as well as the lesson the author wants to teach the reader.
True or False: Theme and Main Idea are basically the same thing.
False! Theme is the lesson or message an author wants readers to understand.
The main idea is the main point or central idea of the paragraph. It is the most important thought about the topic .
Kyle liked Lucy more than any other girl in the school, but he had an odd way of showing it. When she walked ahead of him in line, he kicked at the back of her shoe. When she passed him on the school yard, he called her “lame Lucy.” He even wrote a mean word on her homework during the bus ride to school. But what puzzled Lucy the most was receiving an invitation to Kyle’s birthday party. Figuring that he was just planning a mean trick on her, Lucy decided not to go, and while Kyle eagerly awaited Lucy’s arrival, Lucy talked on the phone to Jacob. When Kyle finally realized that Lucy was not coming to his party, he was crushed.
Theme: Don't play tricks or be mean to people you actually like. Be honest!
The Ox and the Frog
"Oh, Father," said a little frog to his father, "I have seen such a terrible monster! It was big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two."
"It’s OK, my child," said the father, "That was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big. He may be a little bit taller than I am, but I could easily make myself as broad. I’ll show you."
So he puffed himself out and blew himself out and puffed himself out.
"Was he as big as that?" asked the father.
"Oh, much bigger than that," said the young frog.
Again the old frog blew himself out and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.
"Bigger, Father, bigger," was the reply.
So the frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled.
And then he said, "I'm sure the Ox is not as big as this."
But at that moment he burst.
What is the theme of this selection?
Do not try to be something you're not.
James was nervous of about speaking in front of a group and never participated in debates. Finally, he decided to overcome his fear. He took part in the debate competition.
What is the theme that comes across in the sentences above?
Be brave!
Don't let your fears stop you from achieving your goals.