Infer Theme

How do you support the validity of a theme?

• text evidence

• summarizing

• you can't

• using the plot

If the topic is courage, which of the following would be an acceptable theme statement?

• Respect your elders.

• Always help others in need.

• It's important to have courage to express individuality.

• Respect the ideas of others.

What is a theme?

• a story line

• the topic/subject

• a universal truth about life and people

• the time and place of an event

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

What could be an example of a theme?

• Friendship

• Being prepared often leads to success.

• How to bake chocolate chip cookies

• Helping others

The theme of the 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?

• 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 dog, too."