Which of the following best describes a theme?

A universal message or lesson in a story.

Explain how a theme differs from the main idea of a story.

The main idea is what the story is mostly about, while the theme is a deeper message or lesson that can be applied to life.

Answers will vary but should identify a story, a potential theme, and evidence from the story that supports this theme.

Grade 6 · ELA · 15 min

I can identify the theme of a story.

Khan Academy · 6:18

Understanding theme | Reading | Khan Academy

3 key concepts

1
A theme is an important idea that is woven throughout a story; it is not the plot or the summary, but something deeper.
2
Themes are universal, meaning anyone can relate to them, and they can often be discovered by asking big questions about the characters and their actions.
3
In the story of Anansi, a theme could be that anyone can have a good idea or that wisdom is inside all of us.

3 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer

Quick comprehension check

“What is a possible theme of the Anansi the Spider story from the video? Explain your answer using details from the story.”

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