What is Theme?
 Theme is the special message that a reader takes away
from a story. No two readers will state a theme in
exactly the same way.
How to Determine Theme
 The Title: sometimes the writer will use the title to hint at
the story’s theme. Consider what the title suggests. Why
do you think the writer chose this title?
 The Characters: how do the main characters change in
the course of the story? What do they discover that could
have meaning for other’s people’s lives – including y our
own?
 The Big Moments: Which scenes or passages in the story
seem especially important? What revelations about life do
they suggest to you?
 The Resolution: how are conflicts or problems in the
story settled? How do you feel about the outcome? Does
the resolution give you an idea of what the story means?
Theme is a Message,
Not a Summary
 A summary explains what happens in a story.
 A theme is the truth about life revealed in a story.
BUT…
 A summary can help you find the theme!
Somebody Wanted But So
 Summarizing using Somebody Wanted But So:
 Somebody – the most important character (character)
 Wanted – what did this character want?
 But – what happened to keep the character from getting what they
wanted? (conflict)
 So – what was the outcome? (resolution)
Whole Group/Teacher Modeling
What is the theme of The Ant and the Grasshopper?
 One summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and
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singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing an ear of corn
he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of
toiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and
recommend you do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "we have plenty of
food now."
The Ant went on its way. When winter came the Grasshopper had no
food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing
corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
Title: The Ant and the Grasshopper
Somebody – the
most important
character
(character)
Wanted – what
did this
character want?
But – what
happened to
keep the
character from
getting what he
wanted?
(conflict)
So- what was
the outcome?
(resolution)
Grasshopper
He wanted to
hop, chirp, sing,
and chat with the
ant – play
around.
The grasshopper
became hungry
and wanted food.
But he had not
saved any for
winter.
The grasshopper
was not prepared
for winter and
was dying of
hunger.
What is the theme?
 It is best to prepare for the future!
 Sacrifices bring rewards!
Debrief
 How did you determine the theme?
 What was the theme?