We will determine a theme through details in the text.

Concept Development

Theme refers to a message about life or human nature expressed in literature.

►Theme is usually not written; it is inferred2 from details in the text.
► Details in the text include character actions, thoughts, and words.

Theme: “Leaving home for the first time is hard”

The adventure Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is set in the days of
sailing ships and pirates and tells the story of young Jim Hawkins who leaves
home in search of the buried treasure of the evil pirate, Captain Flint.

1. The landlord had found mother an apprentice3 so that she should not want
help while I was gone. 2. It was on seeing that boy I understood, for the first time,
my situation. 3. I had thought up to that moment of the adventures before me, not
at all of the home that I was leaving; and now, at sight of this clumsy stranger,
who was to stay here in my place beside my mother, I had my first attack of
tears. “I’ll miss you, mother,” I blurted out.

NOT Examples of Theme:

Subjects or topics such as: “honesty,” “loyalty,” “jealousy,” or “greed”
Facts or directions: Please use your manners. Fractions are important to learn.
Friends like to laugh together. The criminal was caught near the bank.

CFU
Why is greed not an example of theme?

Which statement below might be a theme? Why?

A My friend Henry is wise.
B Money cannot buy you happiness.
C In science class, we learned about cells.

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Skill Development/ Guided Practice

1. Read the text.

2. Identify details in the text that suggest the theme. (underline).
3. Determine the theme. (circle)

Background: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott focuses on four young girls raised by
their mother while their father is away during the American Civil War. Meg, Jo, Beth,
and Amy learn different lessons about life, love, and poverty.
Little Women
1 "It'sso dreadful 5 to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking at her old dress.
2"I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls

nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff.

4Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason

Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be
a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure,
when our men are suffering so in the army. 5We can't do much, but we can make our
little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. 6But I am afraid I don't." 7And Meg shook her
head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.

1. Which sentence would best be the theme of the text?

A It’s better to make yourself happy and not sacrifice.
B Being poor leads to unhappiness.
C It is important to sacrifice to help others.

2. How was the theme developed using details in the text?

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Skill Development/ Guided Practice

1. Read the text.

2. Identify details in the text that suggest the theme. (underline).
3. Determine the theme. (circle)

Background: Little Women was written between 1868–1869. During this time,
opportunities for women were limited. Women were expected to not have opinions
and be obedient.
Little Women
1Jo sat up, put her hands in her pockets, and began to whistle.
2“Don't, Jo. 3It's so boyish!” said Amy.
4“That's why I do it.”
5“You are old enough,” continued Amy, “to leave off boyish tricks and to behave

better, Josephine. 6It didn't matter so much when you were a little girl, but now you are
so tall, and turn up your hair, you should remember that you are a young lady.”
7“I'm not! 8I hate to think I've got to grow up, and be Miss March, and wear long

gowns!” cried Jo. 9“I'm dying to go and fight with Papa. 10And I can only stay home
and knit, like a boring old woman!

3. Which sentence would best be the theme of the text?

A Being lady-like is the best way to be.
B Live your life according to what is expected.
C Don’t give into social expectations; be yourself.

4. How was the theme developed using details in the text?

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Closure

Skill Closure
1. Read the text.
2. Identify details in the text that suggest the theme. (underline).
3. Determine the theme. (circle)
Background: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is about a boy growing
up along the Mississippi River. Tom’s adventures include searching for stolen
treasure, running away from home, and witnessing a murder, while trying to impress
a girl and stay out of trouble.
1Nowappeared Joe Harper, similarly dressed and armed as Tom. 2Tom called:
"Hold! Who comes here into Sherwood Forest1 without my pass?”
3The boys took their wooden swords, dumped their other things on the ground, struck

a fencing2 position and began a grave, careful combat.

A few hours later…
4The boys dressed themselves, hid their toys and weapons, and went off grieving

that there were no outlaws any more, and wondering what modern civilization could
claim to have done to compensate3 for their loss. 5They said they would rather be
outlaws a year in Sherwood Forest than President of the United States forever.
1. Which sentence best suggests the theme?
A. Letting go of your childhood is hard.
B. If you play with swords, you will become an outlaw.
C. Life is not fun without any outlaws.
Concept Closure
Write an explanation. Erin says the theme of the text about Tom Sawyer was that “Life is
not fun without outlaws?” Explain why she is incorrect.

Summary Closure
What did you learn today about determining a theme through details in the text?

Word Bank
► theme
► details
► character
actions

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Independent Practice

Read the text. Underline details in the text that suggest the theme. Determine the
theme. (circle)

Background: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is about a boy growing
up along the Mississippi River. Tom’s adventures include searching for stolen treasure,
running away from home, and witnessing a murder, while trying to impress a girl and
stay out of trouble.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
1There was silence while the master was gathering his wrath . 2Then he spoke: "Who
1 2
tore this book?" 3There was not a sound.
4The master called on students one by one looking for signs of guilt.
5Tom's uneasiness grew more intense as the questioning went on.
6Next was Becky Thatcher. 7Tom felt hopeless. 8He glanced at her face -- it was white

with terror. 9A thought shot like lightning through Tom's brain. 10He sprang to his feet
and shouted -- "I done it!"
11Tom stepped forward to go to his punishment. 12The surprise and gratitude that

shone upon him out of poor Becky's eyes seemed pay enough for a hundred
floggings3. 13He took the worst flaying4 ever and also had to stay two hours after
school -- but he knew who would wait for him outside. 14Tom fell asleep that night with
Becky's latest words lingering dreamily in his ear --"Tom, how could you be so noble5!"

1. Which sentence would best be the theme of the passage?

A You are capable of more than you believe.
B Sometimes we make sacrifices when in love.
C Expressing your true feelings will get you in trouble.

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Periodic Review 1

Listening
Listen to the text read aloud. Determine the best theme. Identify which details support
the theme.
1. Which sentence would best be the theme of the text?
A City life is better than a country lifestyle.
B Be thankful for what you have; grass is not always greener on the other side.
C When you work hard, you can accomplish great things.

A Once a little mouse who lived in the country invited a little Yes No
mouse from the city to visit him.
B The City Mouse sat down to dinner; he was surprised to find Yes No
that the Country Mouse had nothing to eat except barley
and grain.
C "This is very terrible," said the Country Mouse; "let’s not go Yes No
back to the cupboard again."
D The very first place that the City Mouse took the Country
Mouse was the kitchen cupboard of the house where he Yes No
lived.
E The City Mouse took his little friend down the cellar stairs.
Yes No
F "I think I will go home. I'd rather have barley and grain to
eat and eat it in peace and comfort, than have brown Yes No
sugar and cheese,—and be frightened all the time."

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Periodic Review 2

Reading
Read the text. Then answer questions about it.
Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
1Once upon a time a merchant picked a rose for his daughter named Beauty.
2Instantly, out of the garden, sprang a horrible beast, wearing splendid clothes.
3The Beast threatened to kill the merchant for taking the rose. 4The merchant said it

was for his daughter, and the Beast said, "I shall spare your life, if you bring me your
daughter!" 5Faced with certain death if he did not obey, the merchant promised.
6When he reached home in tears, Beauty put his mind at rest.
7"Dear father, I'd do anything for you! 8Don't worry, you'll be able to keep your

promise and save your life! 9So Beauty was led to the castle, but the Beast was
surprisingly pleasant to her.
10At first, Beauty was frightened of the Beast. 11Then she found her horror of it was

gradually fading as time went by. 12She had one of the finest rooms in the Castle.
13Soon the Beast started to say a few kind words, until Beauty was amazed to

discover that she was actually enjoying the conversation. 14The days passed, and
Beauty and the Beast became good friends.

1. Which sentence would best be the theme of the text?

A Help your family at all times.
B Be kind to strangers.
C Good friends can be found where you least expect it.

What details from the text suggest the theme?

Select other themes below that fit this story.

Defend your answers using details from the text. (orally)
(answers may vary)
A. Looks can be deceiving
B. Treat people the way you want to be treated
C. Never give up on your dreams
D. Family is the most important thing
E. Honesty is the best policy
F. Don’t judge people

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We will determine a theme through details in the text. Periodic Review 3

Writing
Read the text. Write an explanation for the theme “Being patient is not always a good
thing.” Use details from the text.

The Patient Cat by Laura E. Richards

WHEN the spotted cat first found the nest, there was nothing in it, for it was only just
finished. So she said, “I will wait!” for she was a patient cat, and the summer was
before her. She waited a week, and then she climbed up again to the top of the
tree, and peeped into the nest. There lay two lovely blue eggs, smooth and shining.
The spotted cat said, “Eggs may be good, but young birds are better. I will wait.”
So she waited; and while she was waiting, she caught mice and rats, and washed
herself and slept, and did all that a spotted cat should do to pass the time away.
When another week had passed, she climbed the tree again and peeped into the
nest. This time there were five eggs. But the spotted cat said again, “Eggs may be
good, but young birds are better. I will wait a little longer!”
So she waited a little longer and then went up again to look. Ah! there were five
tiny birds, with big eyes and long necks, and yellow beaks wide open. Then the
spotted cat sat down on the branch, and licked her nose and purred, for she was
very happy. “It is worth while to be patient!” she said.
But when she looked again at the young birds, to see which one she should take
first, she saw that they were very thin,—oh, very, very thin they were! The spotted cat
had never seen anything so thin in her life.
“Now,” she said to herself, “if I were to wait only a few days longer, they would
grow fat. Thin birds may be good, but fat birds are much better. I will wait!”
So she waited; and she watched the father-bird bringing worms all day long to the
nest, and said, “Aha! they must be fattening fast! they will soon be as fat as I wish
them to be. Aha! what a good thing it is to be patient.”
At last, one day she thought, “Surely, now they must be fat enough! I will not wait
another day. Aha! how good they will be!”
So she climbed up the tree, licking her chops all the way and thinking of the fat
young birds. And when she reached the top and looked into the nest, it was empty!!
Then the spotted cat sat down on the branch and spoke thus, “Well, of all the
horrid, mean, ungrateful creatures I ever saw, those birds are the horridest, and the
meanest, and the most ungrateful! Mi-a-u-ow!!!!”

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