ThemeWe Still Believe:

Chapter 4

California Standards• Standard 1.3 Use word meanings within the

appropriate context, and show ability to verify those meanings by definition, restatement, example, comparison, or contrast.

• Standard 2.3 (Grade 6 Review) Connect and clarify main ideas by identifying their relationships to other sources and related topics.

• Standard 3.5 Identify and analyze recurring themes (e.g., good versus evil) across traditional and contemporary works.

Academic Vocabulary: ThemeChapter 4

• theme (p. 210): deeper meaning in a story that goes beyond the characters and events and that can be applied to other situations

• recurring (p. 211): happening again

Theme: The theme of a piece of fiction is its central idea. It usually contains some insight into the human condition.

•In most stories, the theme can be expressed in a single sentence.

•In longer works of fiction, the central theme is often accompanied by a number of lesser, related themes, or there may be two or more central themes.

•Themes should be stated as a generalization.

EX: Discrimination can make people feel like outsiders

Identify Themes

• Title: What does the title suggest or imply?• Characters: How did the characters change as

the story unfolded? What did they discover that had meaning for the reader?

• Big moments: What were the important events and turning points in the story? If those moments were left out, how would the story be different?

• Resolution: How were the conflicts or problems resolved? Does that give you any idea of what the story means? Does it suggest a theme?

Symbolism:

A symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than

itself.A Journey

can symbolize

life.

Black can represent evil or death.

Water may represent a

new beginning.

A lion could be a symbol of courage.

Works Cited

• information abstracted from:

Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. “We Still Believe,” Holt Literature and Language Arts: Second Course. Austin, Texas. 2003. 210-211.