Download Understanding Literary Themes in Texas Education and more Exams Literature in PDF only on Docsity! Analyzing Literature Literary Theme in the TEKS In the state of Texas All Elementary Students are expected to: Analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about theme and genre in different cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding. What is Theme in Literature? Theme is often confused with other literary elements such as Plot or Topic (or Subject) However, the Theme of a piece of literature is a message about people, life, and the world we live in that the author wants the reader to understand. The Topic, on the other hand, is the main idea or gist of the story. What is Theme in Literature? For example, think about the Topic and Theme of the classic story Cinderella. If you are describing the TOPIC, you might say it is a story about a poor girl who marries a prince. But if you are describing the THEME, it could be described as an example of karma or good things happening to good people. What is Theme in Literature? Charlotte’s Web Topic A talking spider helps a pig. Theme(s) Self-Sacrifice True Friendship Perseverance What is Theme in Literature? Similarly, somebody might describe the “theme” of Pink and Say or Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot as stories about war. But in these cases, war is the setting – it influences the theme, but it is not the theme. Both of these books deal with themes of friendship and philanthropy in a time of war. What is Theme in Literature? The theme can also be described in terms of a moral, or message, or lesson that the reader can gain from the piece of literature. The Tortoise and the Hare is a lesson in perseverance. The Gingerbread Man is a lesson in arrogance and the folly of pride. Identify the Theme Now you try it. Which of the following is the THEME of The Midas Touch? A. A king gains magic powers. B. Magic can cause problems. C. Greed never leads to happiness. Identify the Theme Think about studying theme across different works of literature with your class. How many stories can you think of that have a central theme of: • Friendship? • Generosity? • Self-Sacrifice? • Honesty? Theme Instruction and Rigor Notice that “Identifying” the Theme is a 2nd Grade expectation. Students in 3rd and 4th grade should be able to Explain the theme by providing details from the text. By 5th Grade, students should be able to synthesize and compare themes across multiple works of literature. Try it with your students As you read with your students, ask them to analyze the theme of the text. What message is the author trying to give them? What lesson are they learning? Ask your students to make thematic connections across texts. How many stories do they know where good conquers evil? How many stories can they think of where people get what they deserve?
