1. Learning goals

2. L. 8.5 I can interpret symbols and figures of speech in context.
RL.8.2 & L.8.5
RL.8.2. I can determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting and plot; I can provide an objective summary of the text.
L. 8.5 I can interpret symbols and figures of speech in context.

3. Essential Questions: What do good readers do?
What do good readers do?
How do I know that I understand what I just read?
How can readers determine a theme or central idea and analyzing how it is developed through its relationship to the characters, setting and plot?
How can readers take the details compiled from question three and write an objective summary?
How do texts and characters create universal connections?
How can events, characters, and other items in a text represent abstract and concrete ideas?

4. Enduring Understandings:
Effective readers use a variety of strategies to make sense of key ideas and details presented in the text.
Texts typically convey an insight or message about life.
The message or theme in the text might be developed concretely (literal) or abstractly.
The theme is always expressed in a complete sentence.
Very often there is a relationship between the theme or central idea and characters, setting and or plot.
Very often the theme or central idea is developed through characters, setting and or plot.

5. PART II: Background Notes:
What Theme is:
A universal insight about life.. It can be something positive or negative. The theme conveys a message about life.
Theme is expressed in a complete sentence.
Themes must contain a point of view.
Themes are universals.

6. A Theme Statement does not include plot detail.
What Theme is not:
The subject of the story or the topic of the story. For example, an author could write about a brave young girl during the Revolutionary War era. The young girl is the subject of the story. The theme of this story, however, could be the importance of standing up for one’s rights.
Many stories have at least one theme. Some have more than one; a few don’t have any at all.
A Theme Statement does not include plot detail.
Themes cannot be expressed in a single word.

7. Questions to ask yourself to determine the theme in a story:
What information emerges about the character(s) in the story?
What role does the setting play in the story?
What are the specifics of the plot?

8. Common Themes -
Common Themes: Common themes can be based on the following subjects: Friendship Power/Weakness Survival Poverty/Wealth Family Prejudice Love/Hate Laws/Justice Life/Death Honesty Freedom Belonging Homelessness

9. TRY IT!
Choose one of these subjects and write a complete sentence that would express a point of view about the subject. Example: Underestimating the power of nature can ruin your chances of survival.

10. What are universal connections?
Universal connections are familiar to readers across the world.
No matter their background, experience, religion, or language, universal connections allow readers to connect with the texts they read.
Universal connections make the reading experience more enjoyable and meaningful when readers can relate to the text on some level.

11. What are some types of universal connections?
Text to Text: The text you read relates to another text in some way.
Text to Self: The text you read relates to your own experiences in some way.
Text to World: The text you read relates to the real word in some way.

12. What are concrete and abstract ideas?
The concepts of concrete and abstract ideas are closely related to symbol: an object/event/person that has meaning in itself and deeper than itself.
A concrete idea is tangible and clear; it is a real object/event/person that has meaning within itself.
An abstract idea is an object/event/person that represents deeper meaning or thought.

13. Part III: Let’s Practice! Again!
“The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson”

14. Theme and Symbol
Complete 1-4 to analyze theme and symbol in “The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson.”

15. PART IV: Theme application to assigned short stories