What do you think is trueabout life or about people?

Examples

Family is the most important thing in life.

People treat us as we treat them.

It is important to be loyal to friends.

It is always best to tell the truth.

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

It’s what a writer wants to show is

true and important about life and about people.

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

A theme can usually be stated in one sentence.

One book or story can have more than one theme.

Theme:It is better to experience a normal life, which includes dying, than to experience a life that lasts forever and

never changes.

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

Theme:Good friends can help us to discover good things about

ourselves that we didn’t know.

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

Bridge to Terabithia

“Bridge to Terabithia”Subject: FriendshipTheme: Good friends can help us todiscover good things about ourselves that we didn’t know.

A Few Tips to Help You Identify Themes

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

A theme is different from a subject of a book. Do not confuse

subjects with themes.

“Tuck Everlasting”Subject: DeathTheme: It is better to experience a normal life, which includes dying, than a life that lasts forever and never changes.

A Few Tips to Help You Identify Themes

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

Writers do not write, “The theme of this novel is …” Often, readers have

to put together clues to identify themes.

The theme of this novel is…

Strategies for Identifying Themes

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

“Listen” to the characters.Sometimes they make statements that are actually the themes of the stories in which they appear.

Pay attention to the “big picture.” Whatever a book or story seems mostly to be about probably has something to do with its theme.

Look for a problem and solution. They may provide clues about a writer’s theme.

Look for ideas that are repeated. When something is said or done again and again in a story or novel, it probably has something to do with the theme.

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

As you listen to Thank You, Mr. Falker,

make a mind movieand

think about whatPatricia Polacco’s

themes are.

(Hint: There is more than one theme.)

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

Themes in Thank You, Mr. Falker

Topic : Learning to ReadTheme: ____________________________________________________________________

Topic: BullyingTheme: ___________________________________________________________________

Topic: Good TeachersTheme: ____________________________________________________________________

Topic: KnowledgeTheme: ____________________________________________________________________

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Themes

Try to identify the theme(s) of the book you are reading!

(You might already have an idea or two.)