3.13 Theme
3.13 Theme
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Determine a theme or central idea of the text and provide evidence for
it from the text
Determine a theme or central idea of the text and provide evidence for
it from the text
Chapters: wondering; ready; outside; oops; what it was like; pretending; nest; more tv; it; romance; more about romancing; grooming; talk; the top of the hill; the wall; safe; silverback
The theme is the big message or lesson an author wants readers to learn from a story. The theme can be found by looking closely at the title and the lesson the main character learns. 1
Unlike the summary and the main idea of the story, themes are general and can be applied to multiple stories.
Things may not always be as they seem.
It’s always best to tell the truth.
Believe in yourself.
Stand up for others.
Actions speak louder than words.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Themes are found by looking at the details and clues in the text.
Finding the theme might feel tricky, but it helps you understand the story better and relate it to your own life. 2
Example:
Topic:
This story is about friendship.
↓
Important Questions:
• What makes someone a good friend?
•How do friendships develop?
•How do friendships influence people?
↓
Possible Themes:
•Friends help you through life’s challenges.
•Real friends like you for who you are.
•Treat others as you want to be treated.
Many stories may have more than one theme. There will always be evidence in the text that supports your thinking about the theme.
More Examples:
To review what theme is, watch the video below:
Vid 13.1: Theme Collage
To learn more about the theme of The Call of the Wild, watch this video below:
To learn more about the theme of The Call of the Wild, watch this video below:
Note: Theme is NOT5
Expressed in a single word
The purpose of writing the text
The conflict
Summary:
Summary:
The theme is the central message or lesson an author wants you to learn from a story.
The theme comes from the details and evidence in the text.
To identify the theme, follow these steps:
Identify the main topic of the text.
Ask questions about the topic.
Provide a value-based statement that answers one of the questions.
Extension/Further Reading:
Extension/Further Reading:
To understand theme more deeply watch this video: Theme and Motivation
References:
References:
1 From Seed to Theme. The Reading Strategies Book (2015). Page 206
2 3 Easy Lessons For Teaching Theme. Stellar Teacher. from (link)
3 Theme Collage. Lincoln Learning Solutions. from (link)
4 The Call of the Wild, The Great American Read. PBS Learning Media. from (link)
5 The Literary Element of Theme. PBS Learning Media. From (link)
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