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An overview of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) expectations for students in analyzing literary themes in various cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts. It outlines the specific theme analysis skills required for elementary students from kindergarten to 5th grade, and clarifies the difference between theme and topic in literature.
Typology: Exams
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Analyzing Literature
In the state of Texas All Elementary Students are expected to:
When you are talking about literature, one of the most important things you need to discuss is the “ Central Theme ” of the text.
The Theme refers to the central idea or underlying message of the text. The Theme is rarely stated in the text – instead, the reader must usually consider the plot, characters, and setting to infer the theme.
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
The Topic, on the other hand, is the main idea or gist of the story.
Topic
A talking spider helps a pig.
Theme(s)
Self-Sacrifice True Friendship Perseverance
Topic
An ugly duckling grows up to become a beautiful swan
Theme(s)
Patience Self-Confidence Individuality
Similarly, somebody might describe the
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.
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.
in perseverance.
a lesson in arrogance and the folly of pride.
Now you try it.
A. A country mouse visits his cousin in the city. B. A mouse discovers he does not like the city. C. Be grateful for what you already have.
Now you try it.
A. An elephant struggles to save a community. B. Elephants have very good hearing. C. True friendship knows no boundaries.
Notice that “ Identifying ” the Theme is a 2 nd 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.
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?
Teaching theme also provides opportunities to teach common English idioms:
These idioms are often the moral for many classic children ’ s stories, so students can use these common expressions when discussing the theme of books they are reading.
When working with your students, be sure to teach at the DEPTH and SOPHISTICATION expected in the grade-level expectations in the TEKS.
Do not, for example, just ask 5th^ grade students to IDENTIFY the Theme – ask them to ANALYZE, EXPLAIN, and COMPARE the theme in multiple works of literature.