ELA Theme

Theme is ....

• the setting of a story

• the main idea or underlying meaning

• A new song

• how a story ends

One summer day, Grasshopper was having fun and singing. Ant passed by, carrying food to her nest. "Why don't you sing with me?" asked Grasshopper. "Why work on a lovely day?" "I'm gathering food for winter," said Ant. "Why worry about winter, especially since we have food now?" asked Grasshopper. Ant kept working, and Grasshopper kept playing. Winter came, and Ant had plenty of corn and grain, but Grasshopper was starving. Grasshopper realized then that it is best to prepare for hard times ahead. Which sentence tells you the theme?

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 6

• Sentence 9

• Sentence 8

The petals drop one by one—

from the fragile daisy.

The shriveled, yellowing pieces of flower

blow away, leaving behind a bare stem.

I have to remember to live,

to enjoy each petal of my life,

to share and grow and bask

in the sun's sweet light.

What is the theme of this poem?

• Life is short, so enjoy every day.

• It is important to be alone sometimes.

• Flowers are cool.

• Flowers lose petals quickly.

Where can a reader find the theme?

• It stated directly in the text.

• A character tells you.

• The reader must understand what the character has learned.

• Books or movies do not have themes.

What would NOT be helpful to infer the theme of a book?

• The Title

• The Characters

• The Author's Name

• The Plot and Conflict

You can _______, or guess, the theme of a work by examining the title, considering the plot and conflict, analyzing the characters, and making connections to your own life.

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "I want that cheese," thought Fox. He walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good-day, Miss Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eyes. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds. Please sing one song so that I may enjoy your lovely voice." The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Fox. What is the theme of this story?

• Fox is a good friend.

• Be careful what you wish for.

• Don't trust those who flatter you.

• Don't judge a book by its cover.

Which of the following statements might be the theme of a piece of literature?

• Beauty

• I stood alone in a field of daisies.

• Observing nature can change how you view the world.

• Flowers

The theme of a work is the message about life that the writer wants to communicate. It is different from the ______, or what the work is about.

The theme of a story is the...

• main character.

• message about life that the author expresses.

• sequence of events.

• short summary of what the story is about.