Central Idea in Poetry

What is central idea?

• what the text is mostly about

• the first detail the author includes

• the topic of the text

Whic of the following is a true statement about central idea?

• It must always be explicitly stated in somewhere in the text.

• It's always stated in the first sentence of the text.

• It's the point the author is trying to make about the topic.

Which of the following is NOT a question that can help you figure out the central idea?

• What is the author trying to tell or explain?

• What clues do the titles, headings, and sub-headings give?

• What figurative language is used in the text?

True or False: Topic and Central Idea are the same thing.

• True

• False

Based on this excerpt, what is the central idea of Maya Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise"?

You may write me down in history,

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt,

But, still, like dust, I'll rise.

• You should always treat people fairly.

• A determined person can overcome anything.

• You should always be honest.

What is the central idea of this poem by Emily Dickinson?

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

Are you--Nobody--too?

Then there's a pair of us!

Don't tell! they'd advertise - you know!

How dreary - to be - Somebody!

How public - like a Frog -

To tell one's name - the livelong June -

To an admiring Bog!

• Don't worry about what others think about you.

• Friends are an important part of life.

• Take the time to enjoy nature.