To discover the theme of a poem, study the following items: 1. The beginning and the ending 2. Figurative language 3. Repeated images Write the theme on your paper. A Minor Bird I have wished a bird would fly away, And not sing by my house all day; Have clapped my hands at him from the door When it seemed as if I could bear no more. The fault must partly have been in me. The bird was not to blame for his key. And of course there must be something wrong In wanting to silence any song. Robert Frost To discover the theme of a poem, study the following items: 4. The beginning and the ending 5. Figurative language (personification is a part of figurative language) 6. Repeated images Write the theme of the poem on your paper. April Rain Song Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops Let the rain sing you a lullaby The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk The rain makes running pools in the gutter The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night And I love the rain. Langston Hughes To discover the theme of a poem, study the following items: 1. The beginning and the ending 2. Figurative language 3. Repeated images Write the theme of the poem on your paper. I’m Nobody! Who are You? I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there's a pair of us -don't tell! They'd banish us, you know. How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog! Emily Dickinson Theme “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” describes how the Grinch despises the holiday season. His heart is "two sizes too small" and he concocts an elaborate plan to dress up as Santa Claus so he can steal presents, food, and decorations from the residents of Whoville. He is jealous of their happiness during the holidays, but his plan backfires when he finds the Whoville residents still singing joyfully on Christmas morning. He returns their belongings and is invited to celebrate the holiday with them. What is the topic of this story? What is the author saying about this topic? This is a possible theme. Write it on your paper. “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens The main character, a rich man named Ebenezer Scrooge refuses to share any of his money with the poor. One Christmas Eve, three different ghosts visit him. The Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present show him visions of his past Christmas’s where he chose money over relationships. The Ghost of Christmas Future shows him his own grave and how no one cares whether he lived or died. After these visions, Scrooge decides to change his ways. He does this by buying a goose for the family of his employee, the Cratchets, and by attending Christmas dinner at his nephew’s home. What is the topic of this story? What is the author saying about this topic? This is a possible theme. Write it on your paper. Characterization Make an inference (draw a conclusion) based on the evidence about Ed Johnson’s personality. Write your description of this character’s personality on your paper. “That Ed Johnson,” said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. “He hasn’t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he’d be happy as a hungry frog in a fly-field.” Make an inference based on the evidence about Julie’s personality. Write your description of this character’s personality on your paper. Julie held up six different outfits in front of the mirror and pondered which would go best with her navy blue shoes, pastel eye shadow and the diamond earrings she’d already procured from her overflowing vanity. After ninety minutes of mixing and matching, and cell-phoning her sister three times for advice, Julie finally made up her mind. She’d give the navy blue skirt and white sweater a try, hoping Trent would love it.