What is the difference between a theme and a summary?

A theme is a universal lesson or message, while a summary is a recounting of the events in the story.

List three questions you can ask yourself to help uncover the theme of a story.

1. What did the characters learn? 2. How did the characters grow and change? 3. Why did characters act the way they acted?

Anansi wanted to be wiser than everyone else.

A universal theme is one that anyone can relate to.

Grade 7 · ELA · 45 min

I can determine a theme of a text from details in the 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, and it links a big idea about our world with the action of a text.
2
The main idea of a story is what the story is all about, the summary is the events of the story and the theme is a lesson or a message that you can take out of the story and apply to your own life.
3
In the story about Anansi, a theme could be that anyone can have a good idea or wisdom is inside all of us.

9 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer

Quick comprehension check

“What is one possible theme of the story of Anansi the spider?”

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