Theme

What is the best definition of THEME?

• A universal truth, moral, or idea that the author wants to express. 
• The location and time of the story
• The events that occur in the story
• The author's reason for writing a story

Tags

CCSS.L.6.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.6.2D

CCSS.W.7.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

A novel can have more than one theme.

• TRUE
• FALSE

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CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9

A theme should be a statement, not just one word. 

• TRUE
• FALSE

Tags

CCSS.L.6.6

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.W.7.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

A theme is the big idea in a story. It's the message about people or the world that the author is trying to get across. Themes are universal, which means they are true in all times and all places. They apply to many different types of people.

Read the following passage from a story.
Rohan triumphantly lifted the trophy above his head. Despite all the obstacles, he had won. Beneath his cheerful exterior, he felt a twinge of the constant pain he’d learned to live with. Almost unconsciously, Rohan removed one hand from the trophy and rubbed the thin red scar that snaked around his ankle. He thought back to the surgery and the weeks spent lying in his bed, unable to compete. The months of exercises to strengthen his leg. “Rohan!” he heard the crowd scream, as if in slow motion. A smile broke across Rohan’s face, shattering his thoughts. He returned his hand to his trophy, firmly grasping it.

Which of the following is most likely a theme of the story?

• Some goals are too hard to achieve even if you try many times.
  
• Through determination, you can overcome big challenges.
  
• You need the support of your family to overcome challenges.
  
• When you achieve a goal, you shouldn’t brag about it.
  

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

• 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

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.W.6.2D

CCSS.W.7.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Immensity by A. Gautam

When I gaze at the stars scattered across a dark plate like a million bits of popcorn, my fingers lose the count. When I look at the mountain top— pounds of vanilla ice cream scooped on a big rock, first my hat drops, then my jaw. And next to the ocean shore a deep bowl of blue Kool-Aid, I shrink with the ant. In the vast universe, I am as small as small can be.

What is the theme of this poem?

• Authors often compare themselves to the universe.

• Humans are afraid of things that are immense.

• Humans are small compared to the universe.

• Do not be afraid of things that make you shrink.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The Birthday Surprise

  Isaac turned pale as he looked at the mess he had made in the kitchen. The eggs and bacon were burnt to black shards on the frying pan, cooking oil had spilled out of the broken bottle and was all over the floor, the pancake batter had turned lumpy and dry, and the washcloth had dark stains from the coffee powder that Isaac had spilled and wiped off the counter.

Oh, this is the worst morning Mom could possibly have for her birthday, Isaac thought, as he grabbed a fresh cloth to clean the oil from the floor. It was his mother's birthday, and Isaac had woken up early to prepare breakfast. He wanted to surprise Mom with breakfast in bed and tell her to take the day off. Now, looking at the mess he had created, he realized that not only would Mom not get a day off, she would also have to work extra to help him clean up the mess in the kitchen.

While he was scrubbing the floor, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen. Mom was up! Isaac's heart began beating wildly. His mother walked into the kitchen and froze in her tracks when she saw the storm Isaac had raised in the kitchen.

 "I'm sorry, Mom! I was trying to make you breakfast to surprise you for your birthday. I never stopped to think about how terrible I could possibly be at cooking," Isaac said, going red in his cheeks.

 For a moment, his mother did not react. Then, a small smile appeared on her face and she hugged Isaac.

 "It's alright, sweetheart. You meant well, so there is no reason to feel sorry," she said.

What is the best way to describe the theme in this story?

• It is important to start the day by having a hearty breakfast.

• It is the good intention behind the deed that matters more than the deed itself.

• Sharing household duties helps strengthen the bond between family members.

• Practice makes one perfect, and experience is the best teacher.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The Birthday Surprise

  Isaac turned pale as he looked at the mess he had made in the kitchen. The eggs and bacon were burnt to black shards on the frying pan, cooking oil had spilled out of the broken bottle and was all over the floor, the pancake batter had turned lumpy and dry, and the washcloth had dark stains from the coffee powder that Isaac had spilled and wiped off the counter.

Oh, this is the worst morning Mom could possibly have for her birthday, Isaac thought, as he grabbed a fresh cloth to clean the oil from the floor. It was his mother's birthday, and Isaac had woken up early to prepare breakfast. He wanted to surprise Mom with breakfast in bed and tell her to take the day off. Now, looking at the mess he had created, he realized that not only would Mom not get a day off, she would also have to work extra to help him clean up the mess in the kitchen.

While he was scrubbing the floor, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen. Mom was up! Isaac's heart began beating wildly. His mother walked into the kitchen and froze in her tracks when she saw the storm Isaac had raised in the kitchen.

 "I'm sorry, Mom! I was trying to make you breakfast to surprise you for your birthday. I never stopped to think about how terrible I could possibly be at cooking," Isaac said, going red in his cheeks.

 For a moment, his mother did not react. Then, a small smile appeared on her face and she hugged Isaac.

 "It's alright, sweetheart. You meant well, so there is no reason to feel sorry," she said.

Which of the following actions contributes to the theme?

• Isaac apologizes to his mother for making a mess.

• Isaac wakes up early to make breakfast for his mother.

• Isaac tries to clean the spilled oil from the floor.

• Isaac decides to take the breakfast to his mother's bed.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2