1. Theme
The Search for Meaning

2. What is a Theme?
Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.
In other words…
Theme is what the story teaches readers.

3. You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.
Themes
A theme is not a word, it is a sentence.
You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.
Examples
Money can’t buy happiness.
Don’t judge people based on the surface.
It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

4. Identifying Themes Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).
Themes are implied.
Themes are bigger than the story.
Big World of the Theme.
Applies to the “Real” World.
Small
World
of the
Story

5. Themes are about the big picture.
Not “You need friends”
Think BIGGER.
Find “Real” World advice.
Big World of the Theme.
Applies to the “Real” World.
Small
World
of the
Story

6. Review Theme is what we can learn from a story.
Themes must be inferred.
Themes are about the BIG world.

7. Practice We’ll read each short story.
With your group, write what you think the theme is on your board.
How does the small world of the story connect to the big world theme?

8. The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?" "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew.

9. The Ant and the Grasshopper
What did the grasshopper learn? (Theme of the story)

10. Kara chose a difficult piece to play for the piano recital
Kara chose a difficult piece to play for the piano recital. Her teacher advised her to select an easier piece, but Kara knew she could do it. Kara practiced every day after school. When her friends called to see if she could play, Kara told them that she couldn't and continued to practice. Even with all that practicing, a week before the recital, Kara still could not play the piece without making mistakes. Kara thought about giving up and switching to an easier piece, but instead she decided to double her practice time. The night of the recital arrived. Kara was the last student to play. As she walked onto the stage to take her place at the piano, she remembered the long hours she had spent practicing. Kara began to play. Her hands danced across the keyboard. She knew the piece so well! When the final note faded the room erupted in applause. She had played the piece perfectly!

11. What is the theme of the story. a
What is the theme of the story? a. It takes a lot of practice to play the piano. b. Kara practiced a lot and did well. c. Persistence pays off.
What clues in the text did you use to help determine the theme?

12. Kevin wasn't worried about his book report
Kevin wasn't worried about his book report. He had three whole weeks to get it done. There was no reason to get started right away, especially when he had just gotten a new video game!
The next day, Kevin thought about going to the library to pick out a book for his report, but decided to play with his friends instead. He could go to the library on the weekend. The weekend came and instead of going to the library, Kevin spent the whole weekend at his cousin's farm. He didn't go to the library the next week either; there was always something fun to do instead.
Two weeks passed and Kevin still hadn't picked out a book. By the time he finally got to the library, there was not enough time to read the book and write the report. Kevin tried to write the report without reading the whole book, but it did not go very well. Kevin failed the assignment.

13. What is the theme of the story. a
What is the theme of the story? a. School work is more important than playing. b. Don't put things off until the last minute. c. Kevin should have done his book report first.
Do you think the theme of the story could apply to your own life?

14. Even though they were sisters, Suzie and June were nothing alike
Even though they were sisters, Suzie and June were nothing alike. If Suzie wanted to jump rope, June wanted to play hopscotch. If June wanted to watch soap operas, Suzie wanted to watch talk shows. Tensions rose to the point that the girls could no longer stand one another’s company. It seemed that they had nothing in common, until the day that progress reports came out. While riding the bus home from school, the girls—startled by how upset the other looked—realized that they were both failing a subject. Suzie was failing math and June was failing reading. Since both girls wanted to pass their classes, they got to talking and agreed to help one another. So every day after school for the next few weeks, Suzie tutored June in reading and then June tutored Suzie in math. By the time report cards came were distributed, Suzie and June were passing all of their classes. The girls were delighted, but their mother was happiest of all. Not just because her daughters passed their classes, but because they had learned to be good sisters.

15. What is the theme of the story?
What happens in the story that leads you to believe this?

16. Tammy and Sammy were both students in Ms. Zollo's ELA class. Ms
Tammy and Sammy were both students in Ms. Zollo's ELA class. Ms. Zollo wasn’t very strict about deadlines, and Sammy took advantage of that. He did all of his homework in his other classes but never bothered to complete Ms. Zollo's reading assignments, figuring that he could complete them later. Tammy, on the other hand, completed each assignment Ms. Zollo assigned the night that she assigned it. She had to stay up a little later, but she didn’t want to get a penalty for turning in her reading work late. Tammy knew reading was a core subject and that she had to keep a “C” average for the entire year or she would have to go to summer school. When the end of the quarter came, Tammy and Sammy had both planned on going to Splashtown, but Ms. Zollo called Sammy’s mother, and Sammy was grounded until he turned in all of his work. That weekend was horrible for Sammy. He stayed up until 2:00 AM each night and still couldn’t complete all of the assignments. The whole while, Tammy had a great time eating pizza at Splashtown, watching movies late at night, and enjoying her weekend free of stress and pressure. At the end of the quarter, Sammy was lucky to squeak by with a “C” minus in reading while Tammy earned an “A.” Sammy still hasn’t learned his lesson and probably won’t complete this activity either.

17. What is the theme of the story?
What happens in the story that leads you to believe this?