Theme Review

What is the definition of Theme?

• The perspective of how the story is told.

• What a story is mostly about.

• The problem in the story.

• The lesson or moral the story teaches about life.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

If you ask your mother whether she knew about Peter Pan when she was a little girl, she will say that she did. If you ask her whether he rode on a goat in those days, she will say that he did. Then, if you ask your grandmother whether she knew about Peter Pan when she was a girl, she will also say that she did. But if you ask her whether Peter Pan rode on a goat in those days, she will say she never heard of him having a goat. Perhaps she has forgotten. Still, she could hardly forget such an important thing as the goat. Most likely, there was no goat in the story when your grandmother heard the story as a little girl. Stories are often changed as they are passed on from one person to another.

• People may have forgotten that Peter Pan rode a goat.

• Mothers have better memories than grandmothers.

• A story is different for each person who tells it.

• Peter Pan is a story that most people enjoy.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

Zach and the Egyptian Relic

Zach is embarrassed that his history project is too lame. It's an imitation of a relic that his father brought back from a trip to Egypt. Zach tells his class that the relic is real. His teacher asks permission to display the ancient relic in the History Fair. Zach realizes that if everyone found out about his lie, no one would ever trust him again.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

When the shepherd boy called for help to save his sheep from an attacking wolf, the townspeople who rushed to his rescue were not amused when they learned it was only a trick. When he did it a second and a third time, they started to get angry. When he called for help again—and this time it was for real—no one came to his rescue.

• Be trustworthy and honest.

• Yell for help when you need it.

• Do what your teacher asks.

• Be brave when facing enemies.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.9

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

A prince had some monkeys trained to dance. They were great at copying men's actions. They were very good students. When dressed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers. People believed they were human dancers. The dance was often repeated to great applause. That is until a mischievous courtier took a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage. At the sight of the nuts, the monkeys forgot their dancing. They became (as indeed they were) monkeys instead of actors. They pulled off their masks and began tearing their robes. They fought one another for the nuts. The dancing came to an end among the laughter and anger of the audience.

• Animals have hidden talents, such as dancing.

• Everything that you see is not what it appears to be.

• The monkeys did what the prince told them to do.

• The monkeys were good at copying men's actions.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

When Shelby came in the house, she smelled the cherry pie right away. Cherry pie was her favorite, and she couldn't believe her mother had made one. "May I have a piece right now, with ice cream on it?" she asked.

"No, you cannot," her mother replied. "That pie is for the church potluck dinner. You can have a piece there."

"Oh, Mom, it'll probably all be eaten by the time I get through the line," she whined. "Besides, their ice cream is always half melted."

"I don't care. I'm not showing up at church with half my pie eaten," her mother said.

"I just wanted one piece," Shelby mumbled.

Later that day when they arrived at church, the tables were loaded with all sorts of food. Shelby followed her mother to the dessert table. There were two other cherry pies plus a dozen other desserts, at least. Shelby's mouth watered as she looked at the chocolate cake and the trays of brownies and fudge as well as three different kinds of cobbler.

"More cooks mean more choices," her mother said. "Aren't you glad you waited?"

• Food should not be wasted.

• Good things don't last long.

• Be careful of what you ask for.

• Patience has its rewards.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which of the following quotes supports the theme: Being afraid can prevent us from doing what we are really capable of in life.

• "Due to her fear of public speaking, Anna passed up the opportunity to speak at a national conference.”

• "Sonya stepped back from the edge since she felt a little queasy when she looked down.”

• "Ming's mother, and graphic designer, traded her time with our neighbor, Mr. Phillips, a music teacher, so he could get quality piano lessons.”

• "Joanna smiled and burst out laughing when Chip started dancing in the middle of the crowded store. She loved how is was not scared of making a fool out of himself.”

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

Two men were traveling together, when a bear suddenly met them on their path. One man climbed up quickly into a tree and hid himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other traveler came down from the tree, and asked his friend what it was the bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."

What is the theme?

• It is better to travel with a friend than alone.

• Hiding from a bear will only make it angry.

• Difficult situations test the extent of a friend's loyalties.

• Look out for yourself first, then defend your friends.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2