Theme Test

Which of the following is true about theme?

• The author always explicitly states the theme.

• In most stories, you need to use inference to find the theme.

• There is only one theme in a story.

• The theme tells what the story is mostly about.

Blaine opened up the present and began pouting. He screamed in a high-pitched voice, "This is Captain Thunder! I wanted Captain Lightning!" His mother looked at him with dismay and handed him another present, which he greedily opened. "Why did you get me a red hat? You know I like blue more," Blaine whined as he threw the hat across the room. His mother straightened her expression and squinted at him. Earlier she had hoped to take some pictures of this moment, but by now she had put away her camera. She sighed and handed him one more present in hopes that this year wouldn't be a total bust. Blaine huffed and opened it. "A Game Box 4000… wow. Where's the Game Box 5000 that I asked for?" His mother could bear his ingratitude no longer. The next time that Blaine returned from his father's house, he was shocked to find that all of these toys and gifts, along with many other of his things, had been generously donated to needy children.

• Be thankful for the things you receive.

• Temper tantrums are not good.

• Game Box 4000 is not good.

• Pouting and crying is bad.

What sentence in the text supports your answer of the story's theme?

• "A Game Box 4000… wow. Where's the Game Box 5000 that I asked for?

• "Why did you get me a red hat? You know I like blue more," Blaine whined as he threw the hat across the room

• The next time that Blaine returned from his father's house, he was shocked to find that all of these toys and gifts, along with many other of his things, had been generously donated to needy children.

• You know, I like blue more," Blaine whined as he threw the hat across the room. His mother straightened her expression and squinted at him.

In his sophomore year of high school, basketball legend Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play. The coach cut Jordan from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. The next year, Jordan made the varsity squad. He averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.

What is the theme?

• Life isn't fair-tough

• Hard work pays off!

• Don't trust anyone but yourself.

• Choose your friends wisely.

What is the best definition of THEME?

• universal truth, moral, or idea that the author wants to express. 

• location and time of the story

• events that occur in the story

• author's reason for writing a story

What is the best definition of THEME?

• A universal truth, moral, or idea that the author wants to express. 

• The author's reason for writing a story

• The message the reader wants to give.

• The main idea in literary analysis.

What is the definition of theme?

• how an author reveals a character's traits

• time and place a story takes place

• character vs. self

• author's message about life or human nature

Barry liked playing board games, but he hated losing. He hated losing so much that he would do whatever it took to win, even bending or breaking the rules. He'd steal money from the bank and hide it under the couch cushions. He'd skip spaces while he was moving around the board. He'd shortchange others money that they were owed and argue with them about it. Barry's techniques were effective. He did win most of the games that he played, but the people whom he played with were his friends and family, and it didn't take too long until they caught on to Barry's tricks. They tried to tell Barry to stop cheating. They said that the game wasn't any fun when he cheated, but he didn't listen. He continued with his treacherous style of gameplay until nobody would play with him anymore. Barry may have won a lot of games, but at what cost? What is the theme?

• Barry shouldn't play tricks and cheat.

• Barry is a loser.

• Cheaters never win.

• Winning isn't everything- there are more important things in life.

What sentence in the story supports your answer of the story's theme?

• He continued with his treacherous style of gameplay until nobody would play with him anymore.

• He hated losing so much that he would do whatever it took to win, even bending or breaking the rules.

• He'd shortchange others' money that they were owed and argue with them about it.

• Barry liked playing board games, but he hated losing.

Mr. Pig and Mr. Dog were relaxing at the food court of the animal shopping mall. Mr. Pig was eating a huge feast of pizza and drinking a large jug of fruit punch. Mr. Dog was watching him eat. "Hey, Mr. Pig. If you give me a slice of your pizza, I'll let you have the next bone I find." Mr. Pig declined, even though it hurt his stomach to eat the last three slices of pizza. "I'm sorry, Mr. Dog," Mr. Pig said between grunts, "but I paid for this pizza, and it's all mine." Mr. Dog sighed and waited for Mr. Pig to finish. Then they left the animal mall together. On the way out, a hunter spotted them and gave chase. Mr. Pig normally could have escaped the hunter, but he was weighed down by the large meal. Mr. Pig collapsed and the hunter seized him. Mr. Dog easily escaped. Later that night, Mr. Dog returned to the scene. He caught the scent of something delicious and began digging around a trashcan. He found a large ham bone with lots of meat and marrow still stuck to it. Mr. Dog happily ate. What is the theme?

• Mr. Pig was mean.

• Mr. Dog is smarter than Mr. Pig.

• Don't ever share! There may not be enough for you.

• Don't be greedy- It is better to share.