Theme
Literary Terms: Review
•
Character: A person, animal, or object that takes part in the action of a literary work. The main or major
character is the most important and central to the action
•
Character Traits: Stable aspects of a character’s physical being or personality, including how a character
usually looks, dresses, talks, thinks, feels, and acts (or refrains from action)
•
Character motivation: what causes a person to act a certain way
•
Character actions: how the character interacts with other characters and to events
•
Foreshadowing: when the author shows or says that something will happen in the future
•
Author's description: the things the author shows or tells
•
Theme: author's message about a part of life
•
Topic: one or two words that are the main subject of the text
•
Persuasive Writing: to convince the reader of something – opinion or action
•
Informative Writing: to give you information about a subject – straight up facts
•
Entertainment Writing: to engage readers and keep the reading run and creative
Theme is a life
lesson reader can
learn from a story.
Book world
theme.
Big world
theme.
- A lesson the character
learns through a story.
- A lesson the reader
learns through a story.
What is a theme?
Big World Theme: the lesson a reader can learn from a character in a story
Toy Story
Theme:
•Don't judge a book by it's cover.
OR
•Don’t lose toys.
Hansel & Gretle
Pinocchio
Theme:
•Don’t wish you were a real boy.
OR
•Honest is the best way to be.
Little Red Riding Hood Theme:
Theme:
•Don’t talk to strangers.
OR
•Don’t go to grandma’s house
when she’s not there.
•Don't judge a book
by it's cover.
OR
•Don’t lose toys.
What is the “book world theme?”
Book World: the lesson a character learns in a story.
Toy Story
Theme:
Don't lose
toys
Little Red Riding Hood
Theme: Don't go to
grandma’s house when
she’s not there
Pinocchio
Theme: Don’t wish you
were a real boy
Hansel & Gretle
Theme: Don’t eat
your house made of
candy
Book World
Theme
How to figure out Book World
Theme…
1. What is the character like in the
beginning and middle ?
2. What is the character’s ending
situation?
•The lesson a
character learns
through a story.
3. What did that character learn?
(This is the Small World Theme)
Jenny hated reading
class. She didn’t understand
point of view or figurative
language, and not knowing
how to do the work frustrated
her. She asked the teacher
for help, but he spoke so fast
and used such big words that
she still couldn’t understand.
The teacher asked if she
understood, and she nodded
her head, but she didn’t.
Jenny’s friend Katie knew that
Jenny was having trouble,
and, rather than just giving
Jenny all of the answers,
Katie explained to Jenny how
to solve the problems.
Katie spoke clearly
and at Jenny’s level, and
Jenny was happy that she
finally learned how to do the
work. Later in the week, Katie
was having trouble in math
class. She didn’t understand
division and was really
frustrated. Seeing that Katie
was having problems, Jenny,
who understood math very
well, taught Katie division with
remainders. Both girls made
honor roll that quarter.
What is the theme?
Big World
Theme
How to figure out Big World
Theme…
1. What happened to the character
through the story?
2. Why did it happen?
3. What can I learn from this?
4. What is the theme?
a. Learning math is easier.
b. Help friends in need.
c. Speak slowly.
Once there was a
mean little boy who lived in a
small village. This mean little
boy loved to mess with people,
so one day he ran up to a sheep
herder and shouted, “WOLF!
WOLF! A wolf is attacking the
town!” The sheep herder
grabbed his staff and ran to
defend the town, but realized he
had been fooled when the boy
started pointing and laughing at
him. “Ha ha! I made you jump,”
said the boy.
Then the boy ran up to a
farmer and shouted, “WOLF!
WOLF! A wolf is attacking the
town!” The farmer grabbed his
pitchfork and ran to defend the
town, but when the boy started
pointing and laughing at him, he
realized he had been tricked.
As the boy went back to
his family’s farm laughing about
the funny trick he played, he saw
a real wolf in his father’s chicken
coop. As the wolf ate all of his
father’s chickens, the boy
screamed over and over again,
“WOLF! WOLF! Please help
us!” But nobody came to help
him.
Theme?
(What lesson can we learn?)
Big World
Theme
How to figure out Big World
Theme…
1. What happened to the character
through the story?
2. Why did it happen?
3. What can I learn from this?
4. What is the theme?
a. Always watch for wolves.
b. Tricks can make people mad.
b. Honesty is the best policy.
What are those three questions?
• What happened at the end of the story?
• Why did it happen?
• So… what can I learn from this?
Theme
Obj: - I can generate the theme and make one
connection back to the story.
What’s our signal for theme?????
I Do: “The wolf in sheep’s clothing”
We Do: “King Midas”
You Do: Station B – “The Shortcut”
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
A Wolf found great
difficulty in getting at the sheep that 1.) Which of the following is the
were protected by the shepherd and theme of this passage?
his dogs. But one day it found the
a. Wolves are very creative and
sneaky.
skin of a sheep that had been
shaved and thrown aside, so it put in
b. Good cannot always overcome
on over its own fur and strolled
evil.
down among the sheep.
c. Hunger can drive animals to do
crazy things.
The Lamb that belonged to the
d. Appearances can be deceiving.
sheep, whose skin the Wolf was
wearing, began to follow the Wolf in
the Sheep's clothing. So, leading the
Lamb a little apart, he soon made a 2.) How does that theme
meal of her, and for some time he connect to the story?
succeeded in deceiving the sheep, _______________________________
and enjoying hearty meals.
_______________________________
_______________________________
King Midas
1.) What is the main theme of
King Midas wants
this passage?
more and more gold and is
a. Gold is worth more than
finally granted his wish:
love.
Everything he touches will turn
to gold. The Midas touch! He b. Golden statues are
is ecstatic, as even the flowers expensive.
become gold under his
c. Be careful what you wish
powerful touch.
for.
Unfortunately, when King
d. Listen to your father.
Midas touches his daughter,
2.) How does this theme
she turns into a gold statue,
connect to the story?
and it is at that moment he
realizes that all the gold in the _______________________________
world does not compare to his _______________________________
daughter or her love.
_______________________________
So… what did we just do?
Obj: ????
Did we get it done?
I Do: “The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”
We Do: “King Midas”
You Do: Station B – “The Shortcut”
Theme
Obj: - I can generate the theme and justify it with
evidence from the story.
What’s our signal for theme?????
I Do: “The Wind and the Sun”
We Do: “All in a Week”
You Do: Station B – “The Lottery”
The Wind and the Sun
The Wind and the Sun
were disputing which was the
stronger. Suddenly they saw a
traveler coming down the road, and
the Sun said: "I see a way to decide
our dispute. Whichever of us can
cause that traveler to take off his
cloak shall be regarded as the
stronger. You begin." So the Sun
retired behind a cloud, and the Wind
began to blow as hard as it could
upon the traveler. But the harder he
blew the more closely did the
traveler wrap his cloak round him, till
at last the Wind had to give up in
despair. Then the Sun came out and
shone in all his glory upon the
traveler, who soon found it too hot to
walk with his cloak on.
1.) What is the theme of this
passage?
a. nature is more powerful
than humans
b. honesty is always the best
policy
c. good is stronger than evil
d. enjoy life now because we
all die too soon
2.) Justify your theme with
evidence from the story.
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
All in a Week
3. The theme of this passage
On Monday I rode a rocket ship is
away to outer space.
On Tuesday I ran my heart out in a milelong foot race.
On Wednesday I taught a purple baby
dragon how to fly.
On Thursday I flew in a big balloon across
the sunny sky.
On Friday I swam the ocean blue atop a
friendly whale.
On Saturday I climbed a mountain up a
rocky trail.
a. reading is exhausting.
b. reading is
adventurous.
c. reading is difficult.
d. reading is relaxing.
2.) Justify your theme with
evidence from the story.
How did I go on a great adventure every
day?
_______________________________
Easy—I just read a book, and words took
me away!
_______________________________
_______________________________
So… what did we just do?
Obj: ????
Did we get it done?
I Do: “The Wind and the Sun”
We Do: “All in a Week”
You Do: Station B – “The Lottery”
Theme
Obj: - I can generate the theme and choose an
event from the story to justify it.
What’s our signal for theme?????
I Do: “For Better or Worse”
We Do: “The Brown Hat”
You Do: Station B – “The Lumberjack and his
Axe”
For Better or Worse
You promised me love and happiness
Then, why do i cry every night?
How come i feel colder as time passes?
When you promised you'd always hold me tight
You promised me you'd love me forever
But instead it's the pain that will never end
You left me aside to rot in the corner
My shattered heart will never mend
You promised me your world and nothing less
You made me hope and believe that you're the one
But you ended up crushing me to pieces
Every promise made was left undone
I can no longer bear so much pain
But despite the things you put me through
1.) What is the theme of this
poem?
a. Sadness brings misery
into life.
b. Love always ruins
everything.
c. Love can still be felt
through good times and bad.
d. Love is perfect.
2.) What event from the story
would justify your theme?.
_______________________________
_______________________________
One promise will still remain
That I will always love you
_______________________________
The Brown Hat
A young boy was secretly smitten with the
new girl in school. One day he found the
courage to approach her and ask her out on a
date. She agreed, and the next afternoon found
the young boy eagerly getting ready for his big
date. His older brother saw him combing his hair
and, with a wicked gleam in his eye, decided to
play a trick on him.
1.) What is the theme of this
poem?
a. Teasing brings happiness.
b. Don’t believe everything you
hear.
“You know, little brother, you look okay. But
the new style is to sport a brown hat. All the
high school kids are wearing them.”
c. Don’t be mean to your
brother.
The younger boy replied, “Please let me
borrow your brown hat! I want to make a great
impression on my date.”
d. Find out what you’re good at
before you try it.
The older brother returned with a paper
sack. It was so massive it covered the young
boy’s entire head. His older brother assured him
he looked extraordinary and dropped him off at
the park with a hidden snicker. When the girl
arrived to meet her date, she couldn’t see the
young boy’s face because it was completely
covered by the paper bag. Thinking the young
boy had decided he didn’t want to meet her, she
raced out of the park sobbing with
disappointment
2.) What event from the story
would justify your theme?.
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
So… what did we just do?
Obj: ????
Did we get it done?
I Do: “For Better or Worse”
We Do: “The Brown Hat”
You Do: Station B – “The Lumberjack and his
Axe”
Theme
Obj: - I can generate the theme and choose an
event from the story to justify it.
What’s our signal for theme?????
I Do: “Growing Up”
We Do: “Knocked Down”
You Do: Station B – “The Life of a Cat”
Growing Up
I used to be a superhero,
Soaring high from tree to tree.
With a cape around my shoulders,
I was as happy as could be.
“Grow up,” my brother said.
At six, I put my cape away.
At seven, a box was just a box.
By four, I’d made a rocket ship.
By eight, I read and wrote with ease.
It took me all the way to Mars.
I could tell the time on clocks.
It started out as a cardboard box,
“You’re growing up,” my mother said.
Before I steered it to the stars.
“Grow up,” my sister said.
I miss my cape. Sometimes I think
At five, I could read and write
that boxes still could make cool forts.
in every language ever heard.
But I have no time for make believe
The pictures gave me all I needed.
I’m busy writing school reports.
And crayon scrawls stood in for words.
“Grow up,” my best friend said.
I don’t always like being grown up.
Growing Up
1.) What is the theme of this
poem?
a. Imagination is not important.
b. Homework should be done
before play.
c. Growing up can be hard for
some people.
d. Kids should listen to their
parents.
2.) What event from the story
would justify your theme?.
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Knocked Down
Christopher held the heavy bowling
ball in his right hand. He stared down the
long, waxed lane in front of him. He
closed his eyes and imagined throwing a
strike, the pins tumbling down with a loud
crash. He opened his eyes, took a deep
breath, took three steps, and then sent
the ball rolling. A thundering sound
erupted as the ball collided with the pins,
knocking them all down.
“Yes!” Christopher cried, running back to
his seat.
“Nice,” his friend Patrick said. “You’re still
like fifty points behind me, though.”
Christopher leaned back in his seat. He
was feeling pretty good. Then he heard a
voice behind him.
“Hey, Chris.” A terrible feeling
overcame Christopher. He looked
behind him to see Sam. He and Sam
had been friends since kindergarten,
but Christopher had been avoiding him
lately. Kids like Patrick didn’t think Sam
was cool.
“I thought you said you were too busy to
go bowling today,” Sam said.
Christopher shrugged. “I changed my
mind.”
“Whatever,” Sam said, with a hurt look
on his face. Then he walked away.
Patrick finished his turn and nodded to
Christopher.
“What’s that geek Sam doing here?” he
asked.
“I don’t know,” Christopher answered
Knocked Down
1.) What is the theme of this
poem?
a. Sportsmanship is important.
b. A friendship is valuable.
c. Winning is everything.
d. Losers get left behind.
2.) What event from the story
would justify your theme?.
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
So… what did we just do?
Obj: ????
Did we get it done?
I Do: “Growing Up”
We Do: “Knocked Down”
You Do: Station B – “The Life of a Cat”
Today's Assessment
Answer these questions under your journal when
you are done reading “Curiosity and the Box”
1) What is the theme of this story?
2) How could this theme have helped the Trojans in,
“The Mysterious Horse,” which we just read?
3) What in your life can you relate to this theme?
Bonus: Name one of the study tips we have been over.
Hint: PIRATES
Test Preparation Skills:
The PIRATES Plan
Prepare to succeed (get sleep, eat breakfast, relax)
Inspect the instructions (make sure you know what is being asked)
Read, remember, & reduce (read the question, remember what you
learned, reduce choices based on what you know the answer
can't be)
Answer or abandon (either answer the question now or skip it)
Turn back (go back to the questions that you skipped)
Estimate (use guessing techniques when unsure)
Survey (look over test one more time)