Reading Theme

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly suggests that the theme is Set a good example for people who look up to you.

• "I'm going for a dip. Are you sure you don't want to go?" she asked.

• Seeing this, Paolo felt bad. He went inside and put on his bathing suit.

• This is going to be an awful vacation, he thought.

Visual Aid

Elliot looked up from his book and rubbed his eyes.

"Are you having trouble seeing over there?" asked his father. "You might be giving yourself eyestrain."

"I'm fine," grumbled Elliot, even though he had a pounding headache. He liked his reading spot on the couch. It was cozy, but his parents were always telling him to turn on the lamp. "It's just this book," he lied. "The plot is giving me a headache."

The next morning, Elliot's mom was looking out the window at the bird feeder. "Oh look—the yellow finches are back," she said. Elliot looked, but all he could see were yellow blurs darting to and from the bird feeder. He quickly lost interest.

"You're squinting," his mom observed. "Can you see them?"

"I am?" Elliott said. He hadn't felt himself squinting.

"You know, I think we should get your eyes checked. You make that squinty face a lot," said his mom.

When they went to see the eye doctor, Elliot learned that he had astigmatism in both eyes. He badly needed glasses.

At the optometrist, Elliot picked out a pair of sleek oval frames. When his lenses were ready, he tried them on. He was amazed. He could see street signs a block away. He could see the outlines of leaves on trees. His headaches disappeared, too, as if some muscle behind his eyes had suddenly loosened its grip.

Later that night, Elliot was reading on the couch when his dad got up and stretched.

"Good book, Elliot?"

"Yeah," Elliot said. He had been reading for hours and hadn't stopped once to rub his eyes. "Books are better when I can see."

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

• The right book can make reading a pleasure.

• People shouldn't be afraid to ask for help when they have a problem.

• Sometimes people need help to see things about themselves.

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.

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story

• Just read the beginning of the story

• Think about what the character has learned

• Read the ending of the story

What is the theme of this story? 

• Don't steal. 

• Don't judge others. You don't know what they are capable of. 

• Being beautiful is the most important thing.

• Swans are prettier than ducks.

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.
  

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.

• How much wood a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

• Life is short; make the most of it.

What is the theme of this story? 

• Necessity is the mother of invention.

• Don't steal.

• Respect your elders.

• Slow and steady wins the race.

What is the theme of this story? 

• Slow and steady wins the race.

• Don't be lazy. 

• We are stronger together than we are apart.

• If you try to go on your own, you will get eaten by a big fish.

What is the theme of this story? 

• Respect your elders.

• Look before you leap.

• Don't brag too much.

• Be polite.