Theme vs. Main Idea

The message, lesson, or moral of a story.

• Main Idea

• Theme

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

It was a rainy day, and mom had to get creative to keep the kids from getting too bored.

• Main idea

• Theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

She knew she would have to work hard, but Jana has always wanted to win a spelling bee.

• main idea

• theme

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

It doesn't matter what type of clothes you wear or the or the kind of music you listen to. What matter most is who you are inside.

• main idea

• theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Distinguish between theme and main idea using examples.

• Main idea is the moral of the story, while theme is the author's name.

• Main idea is the specific detail in a text, while theme is the title of the text.

• Main idea is the overall point of a text, while theme is the underlying message or lesson.

• Main idea is the setting of the story, while theme is the plot.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the difference between theme and main idea?

• Main idea is what the text is mainly about and theme is the lesson or moral in the story

• Theme is what the text is mainly about and Main idea is the lesson or moral in the story

• Theme is specific to characters in the story and main idea is not

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Elaborate on the distinction between theme and main idea.

• Main idea is the lesson learned by the characters, while theme is the setting of the story.

• Main idea is the overall point of a text, while theme is the underlying message or lesson.

• Main idea is the conflict in the story, while theme is the resolution.

• Main idea is the specific topic of a text, while theme is the author's name.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How can you distinguish between theme and main idea?

• The main idea is explicitly stated, while the theme is inferred.

• The main idea is the underlying message, while the theme is the overall topic.

• The main idea and theme are the same thing.

• The main idea is inferred, while the theme is explicitly stated.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the main difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA. 

• Theme is a universal lesson, and main idea is what a story is about.

• Theme is what a story is about, and main idea is the universal lesson it teaches.
  

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Is this an example of theme or main idea?

George tries to take care of Lennie but eventually realizes that he can’t.

• Theme

• Main Idea

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2