8th Grade Theme Lesson

8th Grade Theme Lesson

by Lacy McAllister

​Theme

​Theme is the central message or deeper meaning in a work of literature. It develops slowly over the course of a text. It is shaped by the characters, the plot, and even the setting.

​

​By identifying the theme, you gain insights into literature and life. Themes are often universal messages, because people around the world often share similar ideas about love, courage, honor, freedom, maturation, aging, death, and so on.

​Examples of Identical Themes

​1. Good always wins over evil.

​2. Power corrupts.

​3. War forces men to change.

​4. Life can be fundamentally unfair.

​5. Aging and death are unavoidable.

​

​Hints for finding Theme:

​Look for clues in the title. Consider how the author develops characters, plot, and setting. Consider how the author uses symbols. Look at the wording the author uses. Write one sentence that sums up the author's message.

Multiple Select

Matthew Randall was born into a rich family.  He never had to work a day in his life, and he got anything and everything he wanted.  His parents were wealthy entrepreneurs who spent the majority of their time traveling all over the world, leaving Matthew behind to be looked after by the hired help.  

When Matthew was in the first grade, he got the lead in the school play, but only the housekeeper was in the audience to watch his performance.  His parents decided to go to a charity event rather than watch their son's play.  When he was ten, Matthew wanted to go to a football game with his father.  His father was too busy, so he paid the starting lineup of the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins to play a private game of football on the Randall's front lawn.  When Matthew was fifteen, he wanted to start a band.  His father hired popular bands to play with Matthew every weekend at the family's mansion, though his family was never there.

Matthew became a spoiled brat who expected everyone, including the household staff, his teachers, and his classmates, to cater to his every desire.  No one liked him or wanted to be his friend.  Matthew was a bitter, lonely boy who wished for a family that cared about him.  For the rest of his life, Matthew was surrounded by possessions that he didn't appreciate, and he was always bored with his life.  Despite his vast wealth, Matthew never found happiness.  What is the theme of this story?

• Money doesn't buy happiness

• Love and acceptance

• People don't appreciate things for which they did not work

• Life can be unfair.

Multiple Select

Matthew Randall was born into a rich family.  He never had to work a day in his life, and he got anything and everything he wanted.  His parents were wealthy entrepreneurs who spent the majority of their time traveling all over the world, leaving Matthew behind to be looked after by the hired help.  

When Matthew was in the first grade, he got the lead in the school play, but only the housekeeper was in the audience to watch his performance.  His parents decided to go to a charity event rather than watch their son's play.  When he was ten, Matthew wanted to go to a football game with his father.  His father was too busy, so he paid the starting lineup of the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins to play a private game of football on the Randall's front lawn.  When Matthew was fifteen, he wanted to start a band.  His father hired popular bands to play with Matthew every weekend at the family's mansion, though his family was never there.

Matthew became a spoiled brat who expected everyone, including the household staff, his teachers, and his classmates, to cater to his every desire.  No one liked him or wanted to be his friend.  Matthew was a bitter, lonely boy who wished for a family that cared about him.  For the rest of his life, Matthew was surrounded by possessions that he didn't appreciate, and he was always bored with his life.  Despite his vast wealth, Matthew never found happiness.  Which sentences support the theme?

• "Only the housekeeper was in the audience to watch his performance."

• "His father was too busy, so he paid the starting lineup of the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins to play a private game of football on the Randall's front lawn."

• "His father hired popular bands to play with Matthew every weekend at the family's mansion, though his family was never there."

• "Matthew was a bitter, lonely boy who wished for a family that cared about him." "Matthew was surrounded by possessions that he didn't appreciate."

• "Despite his vast wealth, Matthew never found happiness."

Multiple Select

Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money on splendid outfits.  He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes.  He had a different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, "He is sitting in council," it was always said of him, "The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe."- from "The Emperor's New Clothes"

The door of Scrooge's counting- house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters.  Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal.  But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part.  Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.- from A Christmas Carol   

What is a common theme of both of these passages?

• The rich always look down on the poor.

• Selfishness is a negative human trait.

• Greediness is a common trait among rich people.

• The poor must always fend for themselves.

Multiple Select

Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money on splendid outfits.  He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes.  He had a different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, "He is sitting in council," it was always said of him, "The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe."- from "The Emperor's New Clothes"

The door of Scrooge's counting- house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters.  Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal.  But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part.  Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.- from A Christmas Carol 

Which FOUR sentences support the theme?

• "Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money on splendid outfits."

• "But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room."

• "He had a different suit for each hour of the day."

• "He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers."

• "Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle."

Multiple Choice

Excerpt from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was.

Which of the following statements is the BEST theme for the passage?

• First impressions never fade.

• Youth and beauty are fleeting, but aging and death are guaranteed and permanent.

• Money cannot buy happiness.

• Jewelry is the best way of identifying someone who has died.

Multiple Select

Excerpt from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was.

What should the reader infer from the passage? Select ALL that apply.

• The dead man was the "master" of whom the "splendid portrait" had been made.

• The dead man was an intruder already rich from previous burglaries.

• The rings had distinguishing characteristics which confirmed the identity of the dead man.

• The knife wound was merely superficial and something else had killed the man.