π Topic Summary
The theme of a story is the underlying message or big idea that the author wants to convey. It's not the same as the plot (what happens in the story) or the topic (the subject of the story). Instead, the theme is a statement about life, human nature, or society that the story explores. To find the theme, look for recurring ideas, conflicts, and how the characters change and grow throughout the story. Identifying a story's theme helps you understand the author's purpose and connect with the story on a deeper level.
Think of the theme as the lesson or moral of the story β what the story is trying to teach us about the world or ourselves. Sometimes, the theme is stated directly, but more often, it's implied, and you have to infer it based on the story's details.
π Part A: Vocabulary
| Term |
Definition |
| a. Theme |
1. The sequence of events in a story. |
| b. Plot |
2. Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story. |
| c. Foreshadowing |
3. A struggle between opposing forces or characters. |
| d. Conflict |
4. The underlying message or big idea in a story. |
| e. Moral |
5. A lesson taught by a literary work |
Match the term with the correct definition.
βοΈ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Read the paragraph and fill in the missing words using the vocabulary terms from Part A.
The _______ of a story is different from the _______. The _______ often gives the reader _______ about what will happen to help build ______.
π€ Part C: Critical Thinking
Think about a time when you learned a valuable lesson from a book or movie. What was the story about, and what was the theme or message you took away from it?