Theme Interactive Notes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the theme of a story?

• The sequence of events that happen

• The main idea or underlying message

• The names of the characters

• The setting where the story takes place

Open Ended

Why do you think the theme of a story is important for readers?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best defines the theme of a story?

• The sequence of events in the story

• The central idea or insight about life or human behavior revealed by the story

• The setting where the story takes place

• The main character's name

Multiple Choice

How are themes usually revealed in stories, according to the slides?

• Directly stated by the narrator

• Through the characters' experiences

• By the title of the story

• In the introduction

Multiple Select

Which of the following are characteristics of universal themes?

• They are unique to one culture only

• They deal with basic human concerns like good and evil, life and death, love and loss

• They only appear in modern literature

• They can help guide us through our lives

Open Ended

Explain how universal themes connect stories from different cultures. Use examples from the slides to support your answer.

Open Ended

Match these familiar stories to the appropriate universal theme: The Little Red Hen, Beauty and the Beast, The Three Little Pigs, The Ugly Duckling, The Frog Prince. (A: It pays to work hard and plan ahead. B: Appearances can be deceiving.)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the difference between the subject and the theme of a literary work?

• The subject is the topic, while the theme is a revelation about the subject.

• The subject is always a sentence, while the theme is a single word.

• The theme is the topic, while the subject is a message about the theme.

• The subject and the theme are always the same.

Open Ended

How can a character's change or realization in a story help reveal the theme?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are important questions to ask when identifying the theme of a story? (Choose all that apply).

• What is the conflict the main character faces?

• How is the conflict resolved?

• What is the setting of the story?

• What do the characters learn?

Multiple Choice

Which statement about literary themes is supported by the lesson?

• There is only one correct way to state a theme.

• Themes can be expressed in different words and may have more than one interpretation.

• Themes are always stated explicitly by the author.

• Every story has only one theme.

Open Ended

Based on the synopsis of 'The Interlopers,' what is the main conflict, and how is it resolved?

Open Ended

What lesson do the characters in 'The Interlopers' learn by the end of the story?

Open Ended

What is the theme of 'The Interlopers'? (State it in a sentence.)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best expresses the theme of 'The Interlopers'?

• If you wait until tragedy strikes to make peace with your enemies, you may not be able to enjoy the rewards of forgiveness.

• Hatred is more powerful than friendship.

• Owning land is worth any sacrifice.

• Nature always wins over humans.

Multiple Select

Which questions should you ask yourself when judging the validity of a story’s theme? Select all that apply.

• Is this story’s view of life too simplistic, idealistic, or cynical?

• Is the writer trying to push an idea that does not reflect real life?

• Does the story have a happy ending?

• Is the story written by a famous author?

Open Ended

Classify the following theme as either valid or not valid: 'True love solves all of life’s problems.'

Open Ended

Explain how you would classify a theme as valid or not valid. What criteria would you use based on the lesson?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following themes is considered valid according to the judgment criteria presented?

• True love solves all of life’s problems.

• People who have a lot of money or power are sometimes greedy for more.

• People who do good deeds will be happy and will not suffer.

• All of the above

Multiple Select

Based on the lesson, which of the following are important aspects to consider when identifying a story’s theme?

• How the main character changes

• How the conflict is resolved

• What the title suggests

• The setting of the story

Open Ended

What is formula fiction, and how does it differ from true-to-life stories?

Open Ended

Reflecting on what you learned about theme, how do you think understanding the theme of a story can help you connect with its characters and events?