Theme analysis review

True or False: The theme is usually stated by the author?

• True

• False

True or False: The way the main character changes can help you determine the theme.

• True

• False

Wind whipped at Vanessa, Mo and Jaime's faces as they trudged up the mountain. "Do you have the ice samples?" Vanessa questioned Mo again." Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?" he responded irritably. Mo was digging into his backpack to retrieve the samples when suddenly, a gust of wind snatched them out of his hands, sending them tumbling down the mountain. "If we lose those, this was all for nothing!" Vanessa cried. The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had newly begun to fall. How far had the samples gone? The three scientists stared at each other in horrified silence. "I'll go back for them," Jaime spoke up quietly. Vanessa and Mo looked at Jaime. He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack. "I'll go," he said louder. Which sentence from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "Courage can be found in the people you least expect it"?

• "'Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?'" he responded irritably.

• "The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had newly begun to fall."

• "How far had the samples gone?"

• "He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack."

Marta was stumped. She had turned the details of the case over and over in her head, trying to figure out the answer. The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without leaving any trace or fingerprints. Marta paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague. "I wonder…" she thought. Hesitantly, Marta typed the details of the case into the device's keyboard. It whirred and spat out a list of similar cases and how they'd been solved. Reading through the information, Marta was amazed. She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find answer! With new respect, she rushed off. Which detail from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "technology can have good effects"?

• "The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without any trace or fingerprints."

• "Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague."

• "Marta paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts."

• "She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find her answer!"

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.

• You need the support of your family to overcome challenges.

• Through determination, you can overcome big challenges.

• When you achieve a goal, you shouldn't brag about it.

How does theme differ from plot in a story?

• The theme is the same as the plot in a story.

• The theme is the characters in a story.

• The theme differs from the plot in a story by focusing on the underlying message or main idea rather than the sequence of events.

• The theme is the sequence of events in a story.

What is the definition of theme?

• A universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to express.

• Events that occur within the story

• Author's reason for writing the story

• Location of the stories

The following are all

examples of themes except:

• Nature can be a place of calm and comfort.

• Janice ended up losing the big game,

  but learned how to face failure.

• One must sometimes face difficult times to appreciate the good times.

• True wealth is having family and friends who are filled with love and support.

Select the best answer for what narrative elements authors use to develop the theme.

• Foreshadowing, alliteration, irony, and hyperbole

• Setting, conflict, characters, repetition, word choice, title.

• Main character, minor character, irony, and flashback

Identify possible ways an author presents theme in a literary work.

• Through feelings of the main character
• Through conversations of the characters
• Actions and events in the story
• All of the above