THEME
Dec 30, 2015
THEME
The characters in the stories you read make decisions,
and they learn from their mistakes
and their successes.
The THEME of the story is the “big idea” or the “underlying meaning” the writer is trying to show.
Examples:“If you want something done right, do it yourself.” “We’re lucky that some of our wishes don’t come true!”
“Money can’t buy happiness.”
“Don’t judge people based on the surface.”
Tim hated his old baseball glove. He wanted to play with a new glove, but he didn’t have any money, so he decided to steal it. But when Tim got caught stealing the glove, his parents said he couldn’t play baseball all summer.
What is the THEME ?
Tim hated his old baseball glove. He wanted to play with a new glove, but he didn’t have any money, so he decided to steal it. But when Tim got caught stealing the glove, his parents said he couldn’t play baseball all summer.
What is the THEME ?
The THEME is…….
“If you want something, you
should work for it.”
A THEME may be stated
or implied.
stated theme
is expressed directly by the
author
is reaveled indirectly through the events, the
characters’ thoughts and feelings.
implied theme
Tim hated his old baseball glove. He wanted to play with a new glove, but he didn’t have any money, so he decided to steal it. But when Tim got caught stealing the glove, his parents said he couldn’t play baseball all summer.
Is the THEME stated or implied?
It is……..
implied
Jenny Puchovier was so excited. She had a pack of Starburst in her lunch and she had been looking forward to eating them all morning. Lunch finally came and Jenny sat down to eat her Starbursts when her friend Yudy sat next to her. “Let me get the pink ones,” asked Yudy. Jenny liked the pink ones best, but she thought Yudy was funny and Jenny wanted Yudy to like her, so Jenny gave Yudy all of her pink Starbursts. Before Jenny was done giving Yudy the pink ones, Carrie sat on the other side of Jenny. “Let me get the red and the orange ones, Jenny. Remember when I gave you that Snickers?” Jenny didn’t remember that, though she did remember when Carrie ate a whole Snickers in front of her, but Jenny thought Carrie was cool, so she gave her the red and the orange Starbursts. Now that she only had the yellow ones, Jenny wasn’t so excited about eating starbursts anymore.
What is the THEME ?
Is the THEME stated or implied?
Jenny Puchovier was so excited. She had a pack of Starburst in her lunch and she had been looking forward to eating them all morning. Lunch finally came and Jenny sat down to eat her Starbursts when her friend Yudy sat next to her. “Let me get the pink ones,” asked Yudy. Jenny liked the pink ones best, but she thought Yudy was funny and Jenny wanted Yudy to like her, so Jenny gave Yudy all of her pink Starbursts. Before Jenny was done giving Yudy the pink ones, Carrie sat on the other side of Jenny. “Let me get the red and the orange ones, Jenny. Remember when I gave you that Snickers?” Jenny didn’t remember that, though she did remember when Carrie ate a whole Snickers in front of her, but Jenny thought Carrie was cool, so she gave her the red and the orange Starbursts. Now that she only had the yellow ones, Jenny wasn’t so excited about eating starbursts anymore.
VOCABULARY WORDS
THEME
What MESSAGE is the author trying to send?
MESSAGE = THEME
A THEME often appears as a
lesson or MESSAGE that the
reader understands by reading
between the lines.
However, don’t get confused between the SUBJECT and the THEME of a
selection!
subject
what the story is about
STORY SUBJECT EXAMPLES
COURAGEDEATHDISHONESTYEVERLASTING LOVEEVILFAITHFAMILYGOOD VS BADGROWING UPHONESTY
JEALOUSYJUSTICELONELINESSLOST LOVEMAKING CHOICESPATRIOTISMTRAGEDYTRUTHWARWISDOM
When you finish reading a book, ask yourself to sum up the book in a single word.
A single word for
the book Little Red
Riding Hood could
be _____.
DECEPTIONTRICKERY
EVIL DISHONESTY
Deception is the SUBJECT of the book.
Next, stretch that single word into a message:
Deception
Being innocent
can lead to
deception.
From The Three Little Pigs we learned about the importance of planning a project well. We know this, because we learned that building a brick house works, while building a straw house is short-sighted.
With your neighbor discuss what could the one-word SUBJECT of
this story be?
Good planning can lead to success.
Always do your best to make smart choices.
DECEPTION
Possible SUBJECT of The Three Little Pigs:
PLANNINGCHOICES
Possible THEME of The Three Little Pigs:
recurring themes AKA: universal theme
similar ideas that occur in stories from
different times and cultures
North Wind and South Wind competed to see who was strong enough to make a traveler remove his cloak. North Wind blew cold, harsh gusts that made the traveler pull his cloak tighter about him. Then, South Wind blew warm, soft breezes. The traveler felt so hot that he removed his cloak.
What are possible recurring (universal) themes?
What are possible recurring (universal) themes?
Story Subject Story ThemeGreat Force Great force does not
guarantee success.
Gentleness Gentleness can succeed where force fails.
Which image is different and why?
credible
believable
generalization
a broad, general conclusion
Generalizations are important because they help us to understand more about what we
read.
MAIN CHARACTERS CONFLICT/STORY EVENTS
OBSERVATIONS
The Three Pigs The wolf wants to eat the pigs.
Each pig builds a house, and the wolf blows the two weaker houses down.
In the story:Building a strong house keeps pigs safer than building a weak house.
In life:Doing things the easy way isn’t always the best way.
situation
generalization
what the story is about
believable
similar ideas that occur in stories from different times and cultures
when the theme is revealed indirectly through the events, the characters’ thoughts and feeling
a broad, general conclusion
is the “big idea” or the “underlying meaning” the writer is trying to show
when the theme is expressed directly by the author
subjectcredible
recurring theme
implied themegeneralization
theme
stated theme