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Bell Work: In your journal section, write the definition for “Theme” (a.k.a. Central Idea) in your own words. Write a journal entry about one of your favorite childhood stories. What was the theme of the story?. THEME.
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Bell Work: In your journal section, write the definition for “Theme” (a.k.a. Central Idea) in your own words. Write a journal entry about one of your favorite childhood stories. What was the theme of the story?
THEME (n.) the “big idea”, message or lesson the author wants the reader to learn. Central Idea (n.) What the passage is about.
When reading, one of your first goals as a reader is to identify the theme or central idea of the text.To do this, you must understand the ideas and information that the author presents, and how they are connected.
** IMPORTANT ** Do not confuse the theme with the plot or subject of the story. The plot or subject is what the story is about, the theme is the message or idea of a story. When finding a theme, a reader must ask: “What does the author want me to know?” “What lessons do the character(s) learn by the end of the story?” “What does the story show me?”
“Drummer Boy of Shiloh” • By: Ray Bradbury -Grew up in Waukegan, Illinois then moved to California. -Read science fiction as a teen and began writing then too. -Award winning science-fiction author (The Martian Chronicles) -Writing often takes place in the future or past. -Writes about timeless themes.
“The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” Bradbury read the death notice of an actor’s grandfather, who was “the drummer boy of Shiloh.” This phrase inspired him to write this story. He researched the weather conditions during the Battle of Shiloh.
Vocabulary • Benediction (n.) – blessing • Riveted (adj.) – fastened or made firm • Compounded (adj.) – mixed or combined • Resolute (adj.) – showing a firm purpose; determined
Why am I reading this story? • Analyze to find the theme or central idea. • Answer questions about the story’s theme or central idea. • Answer questions to show I comprehend the story. • Relate a story to personal experiences. • Analyze a historical setting. • Build vocabulary. • Design a plot chart. *