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