6th Grade Theme

6th Grade Theme

by Lacy McAllister

​Theme

​It is the deeper meaning in a story, poem, play, or other work of literature. The theme usually develops slowly over the course of a text.

​It is shaped by characters, the plot, and even the setting. The theme affects all of these other elements.

​

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

​Examples of Themes

​Theme: Good always wins over evil Work: The Chronicles of Narnia

​Theme: Humility Work: The Emperor's New Clothes

​Theme: Greed Work: Willy Wonka and the

​ Chocolate Factory

​Theme: Nature works by its own set Work: The Old Man and the Sea

​of laws.

​Theme: Responsibility Work: The Lion King

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 Tennessee Titans 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 even 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 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 passage?

• Money doesn't buy happiness.

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

• Good always wins over evil.

• Nature works by its own set of laws.

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 Tennessee Titans 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 even 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 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 you have chosen?

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

• "His father was too busy, so he paid the starting lineup of the Tennessee Titans 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."

• "He was always bored with his life."

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 "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 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 "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 three sentences from the passages support Part A?

• "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."

• "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 Red Badge of Courage

The youth gave a shriek as he confronted the thing.  He was, for moments, turned to stone before it.  He remained staring into the liquid-looking eyes.  The dead man and the living man exchanged a long look.  Then the youth cautiously put one hand behind him and brought it against a tree.  Leaning upon this he retreated, step by step, with his face still toward the thing.  He feared that if he turned his back the body might spring up and stealthily pursue him.  Which of the following statements is the BEST theme for the passage?

• The living and the dead form bonds of love.

• Death should not be feared.

• Never speak badly about the dead.

• Confronting death can be terrifying.

Multiple Select

Excerpt from The Red Badge of Courage

The youth gave a shriek as he confronted the thing.  He was, for moments, turned to stone before it.  He remained staring into the liquid-looking eyes.  The dead man and the living man exchanged a long look.  Then the youth cautiously put one hand behind him and brought it against a tree.  Leaning upon this he retreated, step by step, with his face still toward the thing.  He feared that if he turned his back the body might spring up and stealthily pursue him.  Which FOUR sentences from the passage best support the answer to Part A?

• "The youth gave a shriek as he confronted the thing."

• "He was, for moments, turned to stone before it."

• "He remained staring into the liquid-looking eyes."

• "He feared that if he turned his back the body might spring up and stealthily pursue him."

• "Leaning upon this he retreated, step by step, with his face still toward the thing."