What is THEME?What is the author trying to tell us with their story?

Definition The theme of a story is often a lesson about life.

It is the “Big Idea” of a text that expresses what the work is really about.

A theme is always expressed in a complete sentence that expresses the author’s point of view.

Examples of Topics That Become Themes in LiteratureSome examples of topics found in literature that create themes are: LoveFriendshipHonestyRacismFinding happiness

Mostly, the THEME is what the author wants you to remember MOST about their piece of writing.

Identifying Theme What kind of conflicts are described in

this writing? What is the author’s purpose in

writing this? How are those conflicts resolved? Does the dialogue help convey the

theme? What mood does the author create?

Identifying ThemeThere are a few key steps to identifying a story’s theme.

1.Make a list of TOPICS.2.Pick the 2 MOST IMPORTANT ones.

Identifying theme (part 2)3. Find CLUES and EVIDENCE (context clues) to support your two chosen ideas.

4. Determine the theme by evaluating the clues.

Let’s talk about some Aesop’s Fables!

Directions: Read along and look for possible themes – or lessons – the author is trying to teach us.

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.

Step 1: What are the topics?

Step 2: Determine the two most important topics.

Step 3: Find supporting clues and evidence. The grasshopper was not prepared and

he starved in the winter. By the time the grasshopper wanted to

prepare it was too late. The grasshopper was not responsible

either, he was lazy and hung around all summer.

The ant WAS prepared for winter, he used the summer to store food.

Step 4: Determine theme by evaluating the context clues.“It is important to be responsible and prepare for the future now, before it is too late.”

The Wind and the SunThe Wind and the Sun were disputing which

was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a traveler coming down the road, and the Sun said: "I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveler to take off his cloak shall be regarded as the stronger. You begin."

So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveler. He was cruel in his attempts, biting into the man’s skin with his blows. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveler wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give up in despair.

Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveler, gently and kindly shedding his warmth. The man soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on and removed it.

What is the lesson? What does the author want us to take

away? Jot down a few concepts in your notebook.