Theme Worksheet

What is another word for Theme?

• lesson

• main idea

• setting

• details

Which of the following best describes a theme in literature?

• A central topic or idea explored in a text

• The sequence of events in a story

• The setting where the story takes place

• The main character's personality traits

What is the theme of this story?

• Eat your vegetables.

• Don't brag. Be modest. 

• Don't talk to strangers. 

• What does the fox say?

People without strong families may rely on other groups for a sense of community.

• Topic

• Thematic Statement

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theme?

• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

• The little boy lied to his mother.

• With hard work, you can accomplish anything.

• You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

In math class, Mr. Carico handed the students their graded tests. Nicole showed her friend Maura the score she had gotten. It was bad. Maura, on the other hand, had gotten an A. On the bus ride home, Nicole and Maura were talking about the math homework for that night. "I just don't get this stuff," Nicole said. "I guess I'll bomb the next test, too." "Look, let's do the math homework together. I can help you," said Maura. Nicole shook her head. "No, I'll figure it out." Maura shrugged. "Okay," she said. That evening, Maura called Nicole. "I'm bored. What are you up to?" Maura asked. Nicole had been struggling with the math homework but didn't want to say so. Clearly, Maura had already finished. "Just getting ready for bed. I'm beat," Nicole lied. "It's not even nine!" Nicole bristled. "Well I'm tired, okay? It's not my fault you're bored." Maura was silent for a moment. Then she quietly said she had to go. Nicole hung up, too, and grabbed her pencil again. But the longer she stared at her worksheet, the more the problems looked like a jumble of meaningless symbols. She took a deep breath and reached for her phone. "Yeah?" Maura answered. Nicole told her the truth. "I'm sorry I was a jerk earlier. I was in a bad mood because I was stuck on the homework. I guess I was feeling resentful that you finished already." Maura said she understood. "Do you think . . . would you still be willing to help me?" Nicole asked meekly. "Of course," Maura said. "Like I said, I'm bored. I need something to do." On the next math test, Nicole got an A. The theme of this passage is- Don't let pride keep you from asking for help. What line best supports this theme?

• "Do you think . . . would you still be willing to help me?"

• Nicole had been struggling with the math homework but didn't want to say so.

• But the longer she stared at her worksheet, the more the problems looked like a jumble of meaningless symbols.

• Math is the hardest subject of all.

The theme of a piece of literature is the same as its ...

• message

• significance

• subject

• meaning

Which of the following is NOT part of theme?

• Can be one word

• Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life that is communicated by a literary work

• There must be a message included in the theme about the topic/subject

• There must be a topic or subject

Central ideas and themes are the same thing - the big points that are being made about life. The fable of The Tortoise and the Hare has a lesson to teach about life: slow and steady wins the race. The fable of The Lion and the Mouse expresses the idea that we shouldn't count anyone out, even if they're small.

Which statement is most correct?

• Central ideas and themes are the same thing

• Central ideas and themes are the same thing--the big points that are being made about life

• Central ideas and themes are different. Central ideas are for information text, and themes are for literature

Select the theme statement that could be inferred from the paining.

• Bombs are blasphemies.

• When you're a soldier, you see some stuff.

• War often traumatizes those who experience its horrors.

• War traumatizes you.