10_LIT_Theme - Beth Levy | Library

Instructions

Read the first five activities. Then, using the information, answer the questions that follow.

Step 1: SUMMARIZE:  Ask yourself these five questions.

Step 2: MAIN IDEA: To find the main idea, ask yourself these five questions.

Step 3: TOPIC:  To find the topic image that you are writing a hashtag for the story.

Step 4: Message: To find the message of the story ask yourself these five questions.

Theme: To find the theme, ask yourself these three questions. 

Finally, read these six statements about theme to make sure that you understand what you are looking for.

Required

5

What is a theme in a piece of literature?

Required

1

How can you identify a theme in a story?

2

A piece of literature can only have one theme.

Required

4

Which of the following could potentially stand as a theme in a story?

Required

4

Why is understanding a story's theme important?

Read the fable and answer the next question.

Belling the Cat
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:

"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."

All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: "I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"

Required

10

What is the theme (message) of the story? (I will check this manually.)

Read the fable and answer the next question.

THE GNAT AND THE BULL 
A gnat flew over the meadow with much buzzing for so small a creature and settled on the tip of one of the horns of a bull. After he had rested a short time, he made ready to fly away. 

Before he left he begged the Bull's pardon for having used his horn for a resting place. "You must be very glad to have me go now," he said. 

"It's all the same to me," replied the Bull. "I did not even know you were there."

Required

10