2. What are we trying to learn?
Learning Intention: to develop an
understanding of the concept of a
‘theme’ in a text
3. How will you know if you have been
successful?
Success Criteria: I will be successful if I can:
Identify the theme of a text in 1-3 words
Create applied questions based on the theme
Suggest two possible answers to each applied
question.
4. What is a theme?
A life lesson, moral, or message about life or
human nature that is communicated by a text
In other words…
A theme is what the story teaches the reader
5. What is a theme?
A theme is usually expressed in 1 – 3
words. For example:
Bullying
Feeling different
Taking risks
Friendship
6. Identifying Themes
Themes are not explicit (clearly stated)
Themes are implied
Themes are bigger than the story
‘Small
World’
of the
Story
‘Big World’ of the theme
7. Identifying Themes
Themes are about the big picture.
Not: John should have studied harder
Not: Lisa and Michelle are bad friends
Think BIGGER.
Find “Real World” advice.
8. Identifying themes
Often there is more than one theme
You might express the theme in a slightly
different way than those around you. For
example ‘families’ versus ‘relationships’.
Think to yourself:
What is the author trying to teach us?
9. The Enormous Turnip
AN OLD MAN planted a turnip. The turnip grew to be enormous. The old man
started to pull the turnip out of the ground. He pulled and pulled, but
couldn't pull it out. So he called over the old woman.
The old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip,
they pulled and pulled, but couldn't pull it out. So the old woman called over
the granddaughter.
The granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of
the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but
couldn't pull it out. So the granddaughter called over the dog.
The dog took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the
old woman, the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold
of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but couldn't pull it out. So the dog
called over the cat.
10. The Enormous Turnip cont.
The cat took hold of the dog, the dog took hold of the granddaughter, the
granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of the
old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but
couldn't pull it out. So the cat called over the mouse .
The mouse took hold of the cat, the cat took hold of the dog, the dog took
hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of the old woman,
the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip,
they pulled and pulled--and finally--out came the turnip!
11. Themes in ‘The Enormous Turnip’
Themes
Working together
Support
Persistence
Relationships
12. Turning Themes into Applied
Questions
Themes Possible Applied Questions
Working together Is working together with others always the best way?
Have you ever been in a situation where someone who you
didn’t think would be able to help you actually did?
Have you ever contributed to a group and helped them
achieve something?
Persistence Have you ever been in a situation where you had to persist in
order to achieve something? What were you trying to
achieve? How did it feel?
Do you think persistence is something that most people find
difficult? Why or why not?
Why is persisting so difficult?
