How to Find Themes in Literature

The theme of a story is the 

• main character
• message about life that the author expresses
• sequence of events
• short summary of what the story is about

Which of the following could be the theme of a story?

• Fear is more dangerous than any beast
• A brave young girl pretends to be a man and takes her father's place in the army. 
• a fear of heights
• "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dogs, too!"

Which of the following could be a theme of a story? 

• A 35-year-old woman named Essie and her brother
• a small apartment in Marfa, Texas
• Telling the truth may cause pain, but in the end, it's better than lying. 
• Essie lied to her brother about her identitiy for two years, but she finally decided to tell him the truth. 

Which of the following could be a theme of a story?

• Your past does not define you. 
• returning home after a long time
• A man sees a group of people he used to work for a long time ago. 
• an old man who used to be a farmer

^{Read the following sentence.} 
A toad and a lizard learn to get along while on a journey through the wilderness. 
_{The sentence above is an example of a...} 

• plot
• character
• summary/main idea
• theme 

_{Read the following sentence}
Friendship helps people get through hard times 
_{This sentence above is an example of...}

• plot
• character
• main idea
• theme

War destroys human values.  This is an example of a 

• plot
• main idea
• fable
• theme

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.
What is the theme?

• share with your neighbor
• work before you play
• be respectful
• don't be greedy

A novel can have more than one theme.

• TRUE
• FALSE