Identifying Theme

​What is a theme?

Themes are a story's central idea and an universal truth.

Themes are conveyed via plot, characters, and other story elements. Remember: a theme is what the story is teaching readers.

Open Ended

What is a theme? Define it in your own words.

Multiple Choice

A novel can have more than one theme.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A theme should be a statement (complete sentence), not just one word. 

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story.

• Just read the beginning of the story.

• Think about what the character has learned.

• Read the ending of the story.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
• You can severely break your leg while crossing the street.
• Life is short; make the most of it.

​Let's practice identifying theme.

Choose the best answer for each story.

Multiple Choice

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision. What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

Multiple Choice

All Cameron wanted to do with his life was be a singer. He didn't pay attention in school and he spent all of this time at home watching music videos online and impersonating his idols. His mother tried to teach him the value of getting an education and having a backup plan, but Cameron would respond the same way every time, "Mom, I won't need to know any of that boring old stuff when I'm famous, You'll see." But there was one major problem with Cameron's plan; wasn't any good at singing. Cameron wanted to be a singer so badly, that he didn't notice the pained look on the faces of those who endured his singing. Because he wanted to be a singer to badly, when honest people told him to find something else to do with his life, he accused them of being "jealous haters" and ignored their advice. After Cameron dropped out of high school to focus on his music career, the years passed and the doors never opened.  What is the theme?

• No matter what your dream or goal in life is, always get an education because you never know what might happen.
• Always listen to what people say about you
• Never give up on your dreams
• You don't necessarily need an education to get ahead in life.

Multiple Choice

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door. What is the theme?

• Share with your neighbor.

• Work before you play.

• Be respectful.

• Don't be greedy.

Multiple Choice

Jim was stacking boxes at work.  There was a certain height he had to reach.  He stretched his body, but could not reach to place the final box at the top.  Bill happened to see Jim struggling and came to his rescue, since he was a foot taller. What is the theme?

• Teamwork can accomplish a goal.

• Tall people are the best.

• Work hard to reach a goal.

• People can be like boxes.

Multiple Choice

What is the theme of the following passage?

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.…” (The Raven by Edgar Allan)

• Fear is an unsettling but powerful emotion.

• Revenge is always an option.

• Always lock your doors.

• The boogie man is alive and well

Multiple Choice

Alan had very few responsibilities, but one of them was to clean his room. It did not take long, but Alan still didn't like doing it. One day Alan thought of a way to save some time. Rather than putting everything neatly back in its place, he decided to just throw all the stuff on the floor into his closet. His mom would think that he had cleaned his room, and it would only take a fraction of the time. Alan was pleased with himself for thinking of this brilliant idea. He figured that this would save a lot of time and energy. The next time his room got messy, he piled everything up in the closet and the pile grew. It grew and grew. Then Alan's friend Steve called. "Alan, everyone is playing baseball at the park. Do you want to play too?" Alan loved baseball. "That sounds great, Steve. I'll be right there." Alan went to grab his baseball mitt when he realized that it wasn't in its usual place. Alan thought to himself, I guess it's in the closet. When he opened up the closet door, he was faced with a huge, unnavigable mess, some of which poured out as he opened the door. Alan began digging through the pile in a frantic attempt to find his mitt. He dug and dug, and as he dug his room got messier and messier. Soon his room was the messiest that it had ever been, and he still hadn't found his mitt. Alan sighed in despair. By the time he found his mitt, the boys had long concluded their game and Alan had hours of cleaning ahead of him before he'd be allowed to leave.

What is the theme of the story?

• Treat others as you wish to be treated; what goes around, comes around.

• A thing worth doing is worth doing correctly; cutting corners comes at a cost; it is better to do a thing once the right way then many times the wrong way.

• Give credit where credit is due; a good relationship has to have some give and take.

• Do not criticize things that are dear to others, particularly if they are not seeking your criticism

Multiple Choice

A novel can have more than one theme.

• True

• False