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.