Theme

​Theme

Today I can identify theme.

Today you will learn...

• to understand the difference between a topic and a theme

• to identify the theme of a work of literature

• to find details that support a theme

Today I can identify theme.

Theme vs. Topic

It is important to know the difference between a work's theme and its topic, or what the work is about. A topic can usually be described in one or two words: "friendship" or "war." A theme, however, is usually expressed using a complete sentence, such as "friendship is more valuable than money," or "war can turn ordinary people into heroes."

Today I can identify theme.

​On the next slide is a story about two people competing against each other. Think about the message of the story. What lessons about life does it teach? The message or lesson of a work of literature is called a theme.

Poll

What might the theme be in this story? There is more than one correct answer.

"Oh yeah?" Charles sneered. "If you're so great, why don't you race me?" Lucy gasped. Charles was the fastest runner at school. "You're on," she gulped. That night, she began to train. Day after day, she ran laps at the track. Charles would watch her, laughing. His friends asked him why he wasn't practicing, too. "Practice? I don't need practice to win." Finally, the day of the race dawned. Lucy met him at the track. "Good luck," she said. "I don't need it," he replied. They took off. At the finish line, he turned back to look for Lucy—but she'd already beaten him by half a lap!

• Love is the key to happiness

• Hard work pays off

• With planning, the weak can defeat the strong

• Overconfidence can lead to failure

​To find the theme, ask yourself: What big message about life is the writer trying to tell me? Sometimes the author will directly tell you the theme in the story.

Multiple Choice

Read the story attached to the question. Which sentence best tells you the theme?

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 6

• Sentence 8

• Sentence 9

​Often, you will need to infer the theme of a work. That means you have to use details from the text and your knowledge about life to figure out the message.

Ask yourself: To what in the story does the title refer? After you finish reading, consider the meaning of the title. What ideas might the writer be trying to emphasize?

Examine the title.

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A story's plot often focuses on a conflict, or problem, that is important to the theme. Ask yourself: What conflicts do the characters face? How are those conflicts resolved?

​​Consider the plot and conflict

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Often, a theme is revealed through the main characters' words and actions. Ask yourself: What important statements do the characters make? How do the characters change? What lessons do they learn?

Analyze the characters.

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Consider what you already know about human nature. Ask: How can my own experiences or understanding of people's emotions help me understand the big idea or message?

​​Make connections.

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Multiple Choice

Now read this poem, and identify the theme.

The petals drop one by one—

from the fragile daisy.

The shriveled, yellowing pieces of flower

blow away, leaving behind a bare stem.

I have to remember to live,to enjoy each petal of my life,

to share and grow and bask

in the sun's sweet light.

• Flowers lose petals quickly.

• Life is short, so enjoy every day.

• It is important to be alone sometimes.

• Selfishness doesn't pay.

Details that support theme

Remember, a theme must be based on the details, events, and characters in the text. To find support for a theme, you must go back to the text.

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Look for things that the characters say or ways in which they change. These details often contain ideas or messages that support the theme.

Today I can identify theme.

​"Maybe you should let it go, Jen," sighed Marlene. "If you make the track team, it'll be because the coach feels bad for you now that you're in a wheelchair." Marlene's words stung—I worried about this, too. I didn't ask to be in this chair, or to be hit by a crazy driver! And I definitely never asked for anyone's pity! But did I have to give up my dreams of racing? "No, Marlene. I need to race. My family's saving up to buy me a racing chair. I'm going to compete just like anyone else—and win."

​Words vs Thoughts

Today I can identify theme.

"No, Marlene. I need to race. My family's saving up to buy me a racing chair. I'm going to compete just like anyone else—and win."

Character's Words

Marlene's words stung—I worried about this, too. I didn't ask to be in this chair, or to be hit by a crazy driver! And I definitely never asked for anyone's pity! But did I have to give up my dreams of racing?

Character's Thoughts

Multiple Choice

Read these three parts of a story. Which part below supports the theme "True friends are more valuable than money"?

Summary

The theme of a work is the message about life that the writer wants to communicate. It is different from the topic, or what the work is about. A theme is the writer's message about the topic. It usually takes a complete sentence to express a theme.

​You can infer, or guess, the theme of a work by examining the title, considering the plot and conflict, analyzing the characters, and making connections to your own life.

​Often, themes are supported by details that reveal the characters' words and thoughts.

Today I can identify theme.

​Get ready for a quick quiz!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements might be the theme of a piece of literature?

• Natural beauty

• I stood alone in a field of daisies.

• Observing nature can change how you view the world.

• The flowers were pretty.

Multiple Choice

Read the passage below. Then, choose the sentence below that best states the theme.

"Why can't you just pack me salami or tuna sandwiches? That's what everyone else eats." "Don't you like the lunches I pack you?" Abu seemed surprised that I was complaining. "Of course I love your mansaf, Abu, but it . . . it just smells so strong. People think the jameed in it smells like dirty socks. I feel like everyone's staring at my weird food," I said." Are you ashamed of being different?" I didn't answer my father. He continued, "We have a beautiful heritage. There is no shame in eating the foods your grandparents and great-grandparents ate! Never look down on your traditions, my child." I knew in my heart Abu was right.

• It is hard to fit in.

• A person should be proud of his or her heritage.

• One should eat ethnic foods.

• Some people don't like to appear "different."

Multiple Choice

Which statement best supports the story's theme that one should be proud of his or her traditions?

(1) "Why can't you just pack me salami or tuna sandwiches? (2) That's what everyone else eats."(3) "Don't you like the lunches I pack you?" Abu seemed surprised that I was complaining.(4) "Of course I love your mansaf, Abu, but it . . . it just smells so strong. (5) People think the jameed in it smells like dirty socks. (6) I feel like everyone's staring at my weird food,"? I said.(7) "Are you ashamed of being different?"(8) I didn't answer my father. (9) He continued, "We have a beautiful heritage. (10) There is no shame in eating the foods your grandparents and great-grandparents ate! (11) Never look down on your traditions, my child."(12) I knew in my heart Abu was right.

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 4

• Sentence 7

• Sentence 11

Multiple Choice

Which statement below best communicates the theme of this passage?

• Don't trust those who flatter you.

• Appreciate what you have.

• Beauty is only skin deep.

• Be careful what you wish for.

Multiple Choice

Read this stanza from a poem by Emily Dickinson. Which statement best communicates the theme?

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all, . . .

• Hope has feathers.

• Tunes don't need to have words.

• Hope is what keeps people going.

• Hope is this same thing as love.