Determining Theme
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Objective
I can determine a theme of a literary work by analyzing textual evidence.
Part 1 of 3
Warm-up video
OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film · 4:24
We don't generate video — this one is by OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 3
Practice
7 questions
According to the video, what distinguishes a theme from a moral in storytelling?
The video shares a quote from Anton Chekhov: “You are confusing two concepts, the solution of the problem and the correct formulation of the problem. Only the second is required of the artist.” How does this quote relate to the idea of theme in storytelling?
Part 3 of 3
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Consider a story where a character constantly lies to their friends and family to maintain a false image of success, but ultimately loses their relationships. What is one possible thematic question that this story explores? Imagine a story about a group of refugees who are forced to leave their homes due to war and must navigate a new and unfamiliar culture. What is one possible thematic question that this story could explore? Suppose a story depicts two characters from different social classes who fall in love, but face significant opposition from their families and communities. What is one possible thematic question that this story could explore?”
Sample answer included in the free materials
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