Understanding Theme

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 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. 

_{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

What is this story's theme?

I was told by some people I met online that would make a lot of money if I invested in their “amazing” plan. I admit, I was greedy, so I gave them a lot of my money. In the end, I lost the money and was almost arrested. I realized that money is not as important to me as my freedom.

• Do not be greedy

• Nothing easy is worthwhile

• Never invest your money

• Sometimes you can't trust your friends

What is the theme of this story?

• Never trust old people

• Fishing is a waste of time

• If you do not succeed the first time, you have to keep trying

• Fishing is boring

What is the story's theme?

A monkey put his hand into a jar of cookies. He grasped as many cookies as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he was unable to because the opening of the jar was too narrow. Unwilling to lose the cookies, but unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and cried.

• It is okay to cry

• You shouldn't steal

• Do not be greedy

• Sometimes, life is not fair

Select all of the ways to identify a story's theme. Choose three right answers.

• Look for a statement of theme

• Think about changes in the character's behavior

• Look at the first paragraph only

• Think about the title