Theme Reading

What is the theme of this clip? Remember a theme is a sentence.

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Discuss the significance of universal themes in classic literature.

• Classic literature does not explore fundamental human experiences, so universal themes are not significant.

• Universal themes in classic literature are significant because they only resonate with people from a specific culture and time period.

• Universal themes in classic literature are insignificant because they only appeal to a small, niche audience.

• Universal themes in classic literature are significant because they resonate with people across different cultures and time periods, exploring fundamental human experiences such as love, loss, power, and identity.

The best definition of theme is...

• The lesson the author is teaching. 

• The message the author is sending.

• A word that summarizes the story.

• The character's main problem.

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 you pain, but in the end, it's better than lying.

• Essie lied to her brother about her identity for two years, but she finally decided to tell him the truth.

Can shows and movies on TV have themes?

• No, only books can.

• TV shows and movies don't fit into any themes.

• They can have themes just like books can.

• They are the only literary works that can have themes.

Where can a reader find the theme?

• It stated directly in the text.

• A character tells you.

• The reader must understand what the character has learned.

• Books or movies do not have themes.

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.

• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.

• You can severely break your leg while crossing the street.

• Life is short; make the most of it.

Lucy is a superhero. There is an evil villain approaching Lucy's small-town of Gray. Lucy hears of this news, and she instantly begins training so she can defeat him.

What theme can we take away from this summary of a story?

• Friendship is important.

• Treat others how you would like to be treated.

• You must work hard to reach your goals.

Determine what the theme is for the story. Remember, a theme is a lesson or message in the story. Money Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When he was six, Money Mark wanted to go to a basketball game. His father paid the starting five of the Bulls and Celtics to play a private game of Nerf-ball in Money Mark’s bedroom. When Money Mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. His father hired the Mountain Boys to play with him every Saturday at the family’s private concert hall, though his family was never there. By the time he was twenty-one, Money Mark was bored with life. He was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didn’t appreciate. Nothing was new or exciting to him. Despite his vast wealth, Money Mark never found happiness. Penny Petal was born poor. Her family hardly had anything to eat, but they loved each other. Penny Petal appreciated every thing she got. When she was six, her father walked her around the United Center before the Bulls played the Celtics. She was excited by the crazy fans and feeling in the air. She looked forward to the day that she could see a real game. When she was thirteen, she learned to play the buckets. She was an extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist. Everyone on the block loved the rhythms that poured from her palms. By the time she was twenty-one, Penny was a successful businesswoman. Soon she had everything that she had ever dreamed of having. She loved to share her wealth and happiness with her family, who had supported her through the hard times.

• Money

• Money is important and good to have.

• Money can't buy happiness.

• Mark had to learn that money was not the most important thing.

Determine what the theme is for the story. Remember, a theme is a lesson or message in the story. Tammy and Sammy were both students in Mr. Morton’s reading class. Mr. Morton wasn’t too strict about deadlines, and Sammy took advantage of that. Sammy did all his homework in his other classes. But he never bothered to complete Mr. Morton’s reading assignments. He figured that he could complete them later. Tammy, on the other hand, completed each assignment Mr. Morton had assigned every night. She had to stay up a little later, but she knew that reading was the most important subject. She knew that if she learned to read well, then she could teach herself anything. So she always worked hard in her reading class. When the end of the quarter came, Tammy and Sammy had both planned on going to the Magic Castle amusement park. They were both so excited. But then Mr. Morton called Sammy’s mother to report Sammy's grade. She grounded Sammy and that weekend was horrible for him. He stayed up until 2:00 AM each night, yet he still couldn’t complete all the assignments. Meanwhile, Tammy had a great time eating pizza at Enchanted Castle. After that, she stayed up late and watched movies. She enjoyed her weekend free of stress and pressure. At the end of the quarter, Sammy was lucky to squeak by with a "C" minus as his grade. Tammy earned an A. Yet, Sammy still hasn’t learned his lesson. He may not complete this activity either.

• Sammy did not use his time wisely.

• Hard Work

• Love is the most important thing.

• It is better to work hard and do things right the first time.