Finding Theme in Literature
Learning Objective
I can determine a theme of a literary text.
Key Concepts
A theme is an important idea that is woven throughout a story; it is not the plot or the summary, but something a little deeper.
Themes are universal, meaning anyone can relate to them, and they can often be discovered by asking big questions about what the characters learned and how they changed.
In the story of Anansi, a theme could be that anyone can have a good idea or that wisdom is inside all of us.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What is the difference between a theme and a summary?
2. Which of the following is the best statement of a theme?
3. Think of a time when you learned something valuable from someone younger or less experienced than you. What lesson did you learn, and how does it relate to the story of Anansi?
Educational Video
Understanding theme | Reading | Khan Academy
Khan Academy