Theme vs. Main Idea

The message, lesson, or moral of a story.

• Main Idea

• Theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

It was a rainy day, and mom had to get creative to keep the kids from getting too bored.

• Main idea

• Theme

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

She knew she would have to work hard, but Jana has always wanted to win a spelling bee.

• main idea

• theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

It doesn't matter what type of clothes you wear or the or the kind of music you listen to. What matter most is who you are inside.

• main idea

• theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Distinguish between theme and main idea using examples.

• Main idea is the moral of the story, while theme is the author's name.

• Main idea is the specific detail in a text, while theme is the title of the text.

• Main idea is the overall point of a text, while theme is the underlying message or lesson.

• Main idea is the setting of the story, while theme is the plot.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the difference between theme and main idea?

• Main idea is what the text is mainly about and theme is the lesson or moral in the story

• Theme is what the text is mainly about and Main idea is the lesson or moral in the story

• Theme is specific to characters in the story and main idea is not

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Elaborate on the distinction between theme and main idea.

• Main idea is the lesson learned by the characters, while theme is the setting of the story.

• Main idea is the overall point of a text, while theme is the underlying message or lesson.

• Main idea is the conflict in the story, while theme is the resolution.

• Main idea is the specific topic of a text, while theme is the author's name.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

How can you distinguish between theme and main idea?

• The main idea is explicitly stated, while the theme is inferred.

• The main idea is the underlying message, while the theme is the overall topic.

• The main idea and theme are the same thing.

• The main idea is inferred, while the theme is explicitly stated.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the main difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA. 

• Theme is a universal lesson, and main idea is what a story is about.

• Theme is what a story is about, and main idea is the universal lesson it teaches.
  

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Is this an example of theme or main idea?

George tries to take care of Lennie but eventually realizes that he can’t.

• Theme

• Main Idea

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2