Identifying Universal Themes

What is a theme?

• a story line

• the topic/subject

• a universal truth about life and people

• the time and place of an event

The theme of a piece of literature is the same as its ...

• message
• significance
• subject
• meaning

Unlike the topic of literature, a theme ...

• can be expressed in one word

• always shows the setting

• is always stated directly in the text

• cannot be just one word

You can often infer the theme of a piece of literature by ...

• evaluating how a character has changed
• sharing a character's experience
• determining how the conflict has resolved
• ALL of the above

Which of the following statements about theme is TRUE?

• Authors NEVER use the same theme twice

• Themes only repeat in short stories

• All poems have the same theme

• The same themes can occur in different stories/different authors

To identify a theme in a story, a reader can ask ...

• What has the character learned?
• What is the setting?
• Who is the narrator?
• ALL of the above

A theme should be supported by ...

• your own words
• evidence from the text
• rationale/reasoning
• ALL of the above

Themes are universal because ...

• all humans share common experiences
• authors add them to make the writing meaningful
• the entire universe enjoys them
• the stories go on forever

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theme?

• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

• The little boy lied to his mother.

• With hard work, you can accomplish anything.

• You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

What could be an example of a theme?

• Friendship

• Being prepared often leads to success.

• How to bake chocolate chip cookies

• Helping others