Main Ideas and Themes

Main Idea Most stories have a main idea. The main idea sums up what the story is about.

Jed Jed couldn’t whistle. When he tried, he made funny sounds. His sister made fun of him. But Jed kept trying. Finally, he learned to whistle. This story is mainly about A. a boy who learned to whistle. B. a boy who had a sister. C. how people made fun of Jed D. a boy who liked music. And the answer is…… A

Trees 2. What is the main idea? Some trees are as large as a skyscraper and as wide as a truck. Some trees are as thin and as small as a one-year-old child. Some trees have flowers, while others do not. Some look gray, and some look black. Trees grow in many different forms. 2. What is the main idea? A. Some trees are thin. B. Some trees are gray. And the answer is…… C. Some trees have no flowers. D D. Trees grow in different forms.

The Ocean 3. The main idea of this selection is that Poets write of the silence under the water. They think the bottom of the ocean is very quiet. But now we know they are wrong. Scientists have brought listening devices down to the bottom of the sea. They also thought it would be quiet. One scientist said it sounded like a traffic jam at rush hour in Atlanta with a lot of cars beeping. 3. The main idea of this selection is that A. poets are not very smart B. fish make beeps and whistles And the answer is…… C. there is a lot of noise under the sea C D. Scientists study the ocean with listening devices

Gorillas In many jungle films, the gorilla is seen as a fierce hunter. Gorillas are shown as killers, much like leopards and lions. In recent years, students in forest life have painted a far different picture. Gorillas do not fight except in self-defense. They do not eat meat when it is fed to them in zoos. Despite their powerful bodies and frightening appearance, they seem to be quiet peaceful. 4. The best title for this selection is A. “Gorillas Are More Dangerous Than Lions.” B. “Gorillas Are Peaceful Animals.” And the answer is…… C. “Gorillas Are Fierce Hunters.” B D. “Gorillas Prefer Not to Eat Meat.”

Theme A theme is a message the author wants to give you. It is kind of a lesson for life. Usually the author does not tell you what the theme is. You must figure it out for yourself.

Theme There are thousands of possible story themes. A story theme might be something like: People need their friends. or Work and play are both important. or Good weather makes people happy.

Jed Jed couldn’t whistle. When he tried, he made funny sounds. His sister made fun of him. But Jed kept trying. Finally, he learned to whistle. 5. What is the theme of this story? A. Everyone is good at something. B. Brothers and sisters love each other. C. It is wrong to tease people. And the answer is…… D. Keep trying and you will succeed. D

Helpful Hints Imagine you have just read a story. Someone asks you, “What was the story about?” Sum up the story in one sentence. This will help you decide on the main idea of the story. Look out for a lesson for life that the story teaches. This is the theme of the story. Make sure the lesson for life is in the story. Don’t just choose one that sounds good.