1. Anticipatory Set What is a theme? Central idea or message of a story.
What is a topic?
General subject of a story.
What is a pattern of event?
What happens; beginning, middle, and end.
What is a myth?
A fictional story about a culture’s beliefs and traditions.

2. I can compare and contrast similar themes and topics in traditional literature
4.R.RL.09

3. Essential Questions What is a theme? How are themes identified?
What is a pattern? How are patterns identified?
What are themes? How can they be compared and contrasted?

4. Myths Let’s take a look, and read, two different Myths.
Most myths include gods and goddesses that have extraordinary powers and do amazing deeds.
Our focus today is to read Myths and compare and contrast their topics, themes, and pattern of events.
Let’s take a look, and read, two different Myths.
Think Back - What is the best “tool” to use when we compare/contrast?

5. Thor’s Hammer
Long ago, in the far North, the thunder god Thor discovered that Thrym, the giant king, had taken his hammer. “To get your hammer back, you must bring Freya to be my bride,” Thrym demanded. The goddess Freya did not want to marry Thrym. The gods decided that Thor would dress as a bride and pretend to be Freya. Dressed as a bride, Thor went to Thrym’s cold mountain home. The disguise fooled Thrym. He ordered that Thor’s hammer be laid in the lap of the bride. At that, Thor grabbed his hammer, struck Thrym with it, and left the land of the giants.
topic
events
theme

6. Perseus and Medusa topic events theme
“Bring me the head of the monster woman Medusa!” the king said to Perseus. The king gave this command because he was sure that it was an impossible task for the young boy. Medusa had snakes for hair, and one look at her turned people to stone. The king knew that Perseus might never return if he attempted to follow the king’s command. Then the king would be free to marry Perseus’s mother. But Perseus knew that his mother disliked the king and would not marry him unless she was forced to. So Perseus decided to accept the king’s task. First he got a shield from the goddess Athena. Then he got a sickle from the god Hermes. Once in Medusa’s lair, he used the shield as a mirror to reflect Medusa’s head. He raised the sickle and brought it down. Perseus took the head to the king, who looked directly at it and turned to stone.
topic
events
theme

7. Let’s chat TOPIC “Shout Out”
Remember, it’s OK to go back into the text to REREAD!
Let’s go back and take a look at Thor’s Hammer.
What about the topic for Perseus and Medusa?
Remember, we are looking for SIMILAR topics - what do these stories have in common?
“Shout Out”

8. Let’s use our Venn Diagram!
Struggle between good and evil.
Topic
Events
Theme

9. Let’s chat EVENTS “Shout Out”
Remember, it’s OK to go back into the text to REREAD!
Let’s go back and take a look at Thor’s Hammer.
What about the events for Perseus and Medusa?
Remember, what happened in each story’s beginning, middle, and end?
“Shout Out”

10. Let’s use our Venn Diagram!
Struggle between good and evil.
Topic
Gets a shield from Athena.
Gets a sickle from Hermes.
Finds Medusa and kills her.
Brings the head to the king, who turns to stone.
Thor dresses up like Freya.
Hammer is laid on his lap.
Strikes Thrym with the hammer.
Step by step
events
Events
Theme

11. Let’s chat THEME “Shout Out”
Remember, it’s OK to go back into the text to REREAD!
Let’s go back and take a look at Thor’s Hammer.
What about the theme for Perseus and Medusa?
Remember, what is the “hidden message” the story is trying to teach us?
“Shout Out”

12. Let’s use our Venn Diagram!
Struggle between good and evil.
Topic
Gets a shield from Athena.
Gets a sickle from Hermes.
Finds Medusa and kills her.
Brings the head to the king, who turns to stone.
Thor dresses up like Freya.
Hammer is laid on his lap.
Strikes Thrym with the hammer.
Step by step
events
Events
Theme
Use your mind as well as your strength.

13. Closure Think - Pair - Share
What is the difference between topic and theme?
Topic is the “subject” while the theme is something universally that can be used in all parts of life.
What does the pattern of events include?
Should include the details from the beginning, middle and end of the story.
What tool can we use to compare and contrast stories?
A Venn Diagram; split into three sections.