True or False
The theme of a story is the author’s message about life.
True
Even though Holden is a popular figure in literature, I dislike him due to his arrogance.
Opinion
These novels discuss themes related to injustice
Possible answers: Weedflower, The Misadventures of Cameron Post, All American Boys, We Are Not Free, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Before writing a theme statement it is helpful to brainstorm ___________ __________ ___________ present in the book, words like “injustice,” “freedom,” or “love.”
Possible answers: big idea words, abstract nouns, concept or emotion words
The theme of a story only applies to some people, more specifically just the characters in the book.
In The Poet X, Xiomara struggles with relating to her parents, curbing her newfound desire for romance, and building her self-confidence in her writing.
Summary
These novels discuss themes related to disillusionment through coming of age
Possible answers: The Poet X, The Catcher in the Rye
A theme should be a complete _________, not just one word or a fragment.
sentence
The theme of a story can be conveyed through the plot, characters, or other literary elements.
True
Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, the author unpacks how grief from unexpected loss can manifest in rebellion and poor coping skills.
Theme
The characters in these novels struggle with faith and/or religion
Possible answers: The Poet X, The Misadventures of Cameron Post, The Witch of Blackbird Pond
After brainstorming and choosing a big idea word, it is helpful to ask yourself “What is the ________ __________ me about this word or idea?”
"What is the author teaching me..."
The theme of a story is virtually interchangeable with the author’s purpose.
False
In We Are Not Free, the author demonstrates how the prejudice faced by Japanese Americans escalated during WWII, especially the internment camps
Summary
These novels discuss the implications of gender, sexism, and gender identity
Possible answers: The Poet X, The Misadventures of Cameron Post, All American Boys, The Catcher in the Rye
Check to make sure that your theme statement is _____________, meaning it could relate to all different kinds of people from different walks of life
universal