What Is a Story

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What Is a Storys Theme?
Feature Menu
Theme What a Theme Is Not Different Readers,
Different Themes Recurring Themes Your Turn
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Theme
Think of a movie or book that had a strong impact
on you.
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Theme
When you walked out of the theater or closed the
book, you may have found yourself thinking about
the storys message about life.
Life
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Theme
If so, you were thinking about the theme of that
movie or bookits message about life.
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Theme
Maybe the theme made you look at yourself in a
new way.
Or, perhaps the theme helped you understand a
friend in a way you hadnt before.
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Theme
Writers do not always have a theme in mind when
they begin writing. Often, a writer begins with
an idea about a character or a situation.
?
Whats your theme going to be?
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Theme
Eventually, a theme begins to emerge from the
developing story and from the writers beliefs
about life.
I think I see a theme emerging!
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Theme
Quick Check
What is a theme, or message about life, of the
grandfathers story?
When Sam visited his grandfathers restaurant,
Gramps told him a story about a young boy. His
brothers teased the boy because he hated to go
fishing. Instead, he loved to help his mom cook
the fish they brought home. The boy didnt let
their comments bother him he kept right on
cooking. Before long, his family was begging the
boy to cook his special dish.
End of Section
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Theme
Quick Check
What is a theme, or message about life, of the
grandfathers story?
When Sam visited his grandfathers restaurant,
Gramps told him a story about a young boy. His
brothers teased the boy because he hated to go
fishing. Instead, he loved to help his mom cook
the fish they brought home. The boy didnt let
their comments bother him he kept right on
cooking. Before long, his family was begging the
boy to cook his special dish.
One theme is do what you enjoy, and you can find
success.
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What a Theme Is Not
A theme is not

• the subject of a story,

• the plot of a story, or

• a summary of a story.

SUMMARY
SUBJECT
PLOT
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Subject
of a Story
A theme is not the subject.
The subject is the overall idea of what a story
is about. Subjects can fit neatly into categories.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Subject
of a Story
A theme is not the subject.
A subject can often be described using a single
word or phrase, such as

• grief,

• competition, or

• betrayal.

A theme needs a full sentence to describe it
Sometimes feelings of grief help bring about
needed change.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Subject
of a Story
A theme is not the subject.
The theme states what you learn about the subject
from reading the story.
Theme What you learn about the subject
Subject
Subject Love
Theme Sometimes the most ordinary moments are
filled with the most love.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Subject
of a Story
Quick Check
What is the subject of the story?
Juan loved soccer. He couldnt remember a time
when he was not kicking a ball around on the
grass, down the street, or even in the house. His
mom hated it when he played ball in the house. It
was rainingand had been for four days straight.
Juan was itching to play soccer, and his mom
wasnt home. He decided it wouldnt hurt to kick
the ball a little, using the fireplace as a goal.
Unfortunately, he missed the fireplace and hit
the new lamp.
What is a theme of the story?
End of Section
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Subject
of a Story
Quick Check
What is the subject of the story?
Juan loved soccer. He couldnt remember a time
when he was not kicking a ball around on the
grass, down the street, or even in the house. His
mom hated it when he played ball in the house. It
was rainingand had been for four days straight.
Juan was itching to play soccer, and his mom
wasnt home. He decided it wouldnt hurt to kick
the ball a little, using the fireplace as a goal.
Unfortunately, he missed the fireplace and hit
the new lamp.
The subject of the story is playing soccer in
the house.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Subject
of a Story
Quick Check
What is a theme of the story?
Juan loved soccer. He couldnt remember a time
when he was not kicking a ball around on the
grass, down the street, or even in the house. His
mom hated it when he played ball in the house. It
was raining outand had been for four days
straight. Juan was itching to play soccer, and
his mom wasnt home. He decided it wouldnt hurt
to kick the ball a little, using the fireplace as
a goal. Unfortunately, he missed the fireplace
and hit the new lamp.
One theme of the story is rules sometimes exist
for a reason.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Plot of
a Story
A theme is not the plot.
A plot is a series of related events that occur
in a story.
When you tell your friends what happened in a
movie you saw, you are telling them the plot.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Plot of
a Story
A theme is not the plot.
To understand the difference between theme and
plot, think of the fairy tale Cinderella.
Cinderella is a kind girl who is mistreated by
her ugly stepsisters. She attends the royal ball
and becomes a princess in the end.

Good people are rewarded with good fortune.
Theme
Plot
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Plot of
a Story
Quick Check
Which of these passages is an example of a plot?

1. Friendship
2. Kelly and Maria were closer than sisters, but
   Kelly could never understand why Maria barely
   talked to her at school. One day, Kelly overheard
   some students gossiping about her with Maria.
   Maria was afraid that if she stuck up for Kelly
   shed become the next target for the gossip.
3. Sometimes, your best friends can be your worst
   enemies.

Which passage is an example of a theme?
End of Section
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Plot of
a Story
Quick Check
Which of these passages is an example of a plot?

1. Friendship
2. Kelly and Maria were closer than sisters, but
   Kelly could never understand why Maria barely
   talked to her at school. One day Kelly overheard
   some students gossiping about her with Maria.
   Maria was afraid that if she stuck up for Kelly
   shed become the next target for the gossip.
3. Sometimes, your best friends can be your worst
   enemies.

Choice B shows a series of events, so it is a
plot.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not the Plot of
a Story
Quick Check
Which passage is an example of a theme?

1. Friendship
2. Kelly and Maria were closer than sisters, but
   Kelly could never understand why Maria barely
   talked to her at school. One day Kelly overheard
   some students gossiping about her with Maria.
   Maria was afraid that if she stuck up for Kelly
   shed become the next target for the gossip.
3. Sometimes, your best friends can be your worst
   enemies.

Choice C makes a statement about life, so it is
an example of a theme.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not a Summary of
a Story
A theme is not a summary.
A summary states the most important events in a
story. It should be much shorter in length than
the original text.
This is the book I was telling you about.
I dont have time to read the whole book. Can you
summarize it for me?
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not a Summary of
a Story
A theme is not a summary.
Summarizing a story can help you figure out its
theme. Follow these steps
After you have read a story or seen a movie,
write down the most important parts.
Then, ask yourself, What message or truth about
life have I understood from this story?
Your answer is the theme. Keep in mind that a
story may have more than one theme.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not a Summary of
a Story
A theme is not a summary.
Here is a summary of a story
A man decides he wants more out of life, so he
quits his job and sells all his belongings. He
uses the money to travel all over the world. He
meets new people and discovers new cultures.
Three months later, he realizes that he finally
feels good about himself.
I know! If a person is not happy with life, he
or she can always try to change it.
What truth about life does this story suggest?
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not a Summary of
a Story
Quick Check
Which of these passages is a summary of Little
Red Riding Hood?

1. Little Red Riding Hood met a big bad wolf.
2. Stay on the path and dont trust strangers.
3. Little Red Riding Hood went to visit her
   grandmother. The visit proved to be an even
   bigger adventure than she had planned. In the
   end, the wolf was caught and she and her
   grandmother were safe.

Which passage states its theme?
End of Section
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not a Summary of
a Story
Quick Check
Which of these passages is a summary of Little
Red Riding Hood?

1. Little Red Riding Hood met a big bad wolf.
2. Stay on the path and dont trust strangers.
3. Little Red Riding Hood went to visit her
   grandmother. The visit proved to be an even
   bigger adventure than she had planned. In the
   end, the wolf was caught and she and her
   grandmother were safe.

Passage C gives a brief overview of the story, so
it is a summary.
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What a Theme Is Not A Theme Is Not a Summary of
a Story
Quick Check
Which passage states its theme?

1. Little Red Riding Hood met a big bad wolf.
2. Stay on the path and dont trust strangers.
3. Little Red Riding Hood went to visit her
   grandmother. The visit proved to be an even
   bigger adventure than she had planned. In the
   end, the wolf was caught and she and her
   grandmother were safe.

Passage B which states a lesson about life, so it
is the theme.
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Different Readers, Different Themes
Everyone has different experiences in life. These
experiences influence how you view a movie, TV
show, piece of art, poem, or story.
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Different Readers, Different Themes
Look closely at the following painting.
What do you think the painting means?
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Different Readers, Different Themes
Discuss the paintings meaning with another
student.
In what ways are your interpretations similar? In
what ways are they different?
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Different Readers, Different Themes
Just as two people will probably see the same
painting in different ways, two readers will
often understand a story differently.
I think Little Red Riding Hood is about
listening to your parents and taking their
advice.
I think its about standing up to bullies.
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Different Readers, Different Themes
Because two readers may have different views of
the same story, each reader may discover two or
more different themes within the story.
End of Section
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Recurring Themes
People around the world share many of the same
dreams . . .
and fears.
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Recurring Themes
Some stories appear in many different countries
and cultures.
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Recurring Themes
Characters and settings may be different, but . .
.
the same themes will reappear again and again.
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Recurring Themes
Here are some examples of recurring themes
End of Section
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Analyze Theme
Your Turn
How many times have you read a story or seen a
show with these themes?

• Things may not always be what they seem.
• Wishes can have surprising consequences.
• You should treasure what is good in your life.
• People can have a strong influence over others.

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Analyze Theme
Your Turn
To begin your exploration of themes and recurring
themes, look again at the list of themes. Then,
think of novels, stories, poems, and plays you
have studied or read on your own. Think also of
movies, plays, and TV shows you have seen.

• Things may not always be what they seem.
• Wishes can have surprising consequences.
• You should treasure what is good in your life.
• People can have a strong influence over others.

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Analyze Theme

Theme Titles
Things may not always be what they seem.
Inn of Lost Time The Princess and the Frog
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The End