Themes in Reading

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.

What is the theme of a text?

• a universal message

• the main idea

• a topic

• author's purpose

Which one is NOT a theme in "A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley?"

• Money doesn't buy happiness.

• It's never too late to do the right thing.

• It's important to learn from past mistakes.

• Courage comes from facing one's fears.

Which of the following is not one of the steps to writing a thematic statement?

• Write a statement about the author's beliefs about the topic

• Determine what the author believes about one of the topics.

• Brainstorm a list of topics found in the text.

• Google themes in the text you are reading.

Greed, death, poverty, kindness, and redemption are all _________________ from "A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley."

• themes

• topics

• messages

• universal ideas

Which of the following is true about theme?

• There is usually only one theme in a story.

• The theme makes the story meaningful.

• The theme is stated at the end of a story.

• The theme is obvious.

Which of the following are examples of theme?

• Friendship

• Harry''s friends supported him like a family, as he battled Voldemort for his life.

• People often turn on the ones they love when they are scared.

• Family

• Facing a common fear can turn friends into family.

A motif is used to ...

• write an essay.

• write a good theme statement.

• characterize a character.

• determine the conflict in the story.

A theme can be found in what kind of literature?

• informational

• persuasive

• nonfiction

• fiction

Which one of these is not a theme?

• moral of the story

• character perspective

• central message

• life lesson