What Is the Theme

• Be an alert passenger when others are driving.
• Don't text and drive when traffic is heavy.
• When you make a mistake, admit it.
• Reckless behavior can hurt you and others. 

Which of the following is an example of theme?

• Cinderella was thoughtful and kind.

• Jack risked his life to save Jane.

• Don't judge people by outward appearances.

• Happiness

What does theme add to a story?

• A sense of location.

• An important message.

• Motivation for the characters.

• Dialogue for the characters.

Three flies notice an overturned honey pot. Two of the flies decide to land in the honey and start eating it. But the oldest fly stays back. The two flies tease the older fly, but then get stuck in the honey.

What is the theme of this story?

• Some prizes aren't worth it.

• Overeating leads to illness.

• Insects value food over safety.

• Always send a tester.

A story's main theme might be difficult to figure out because:

• Authors rarely want the reader to figure it out

• It has little to do with plot, characters, and other story elements

• Only complicated, adult stories have themes

• It is rarely stated explicitly

Which of these is not related to theme?

• a life lesson that the character learns

• the moral of the story

• how a character is feeling

• the message of the story

If the topic is kindness, which of the following is a good theme statement?

• Don't cry over spilled milk.

• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

• When fear is present, wisdom cannot be.

• Face your fears.

Katie Clean invited Messy Missy to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie Clean had no idea what a visit from Messy Missy entailed.  First of all, it was raining and Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat.  Then Missy ate a bag of BBQ chips on Katie’s white bedspread without asking.  Katie tried to be polite and ignore Missy’s sloppy behavior, but then Messy Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor.  Offended, Katie  pretended that she was sick and asked Missy to leave.  The next day Katie  asked the teacher if she could work by herself.  After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone.  Messy Missy would have finished the assignment by herself, but she spilled grape soda all over her assignment.

• People should clean up their own messes.

• Being clean is better than being messy.

• Try your best to solve a problem, but sometimes you just need to walk away.

• Tell the teacher if someone is annoying you.

Can shows and movies on TV have themes?

• No, only books can.

• TV shows and movies don't fit into any themes.

• They can have themes just like books can.

• They are the only literary works that can have 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