Theme, Mood, and Tone

THE MEssageDefinition: The message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.

*Usually must be inferred.

*You, the reader, may agree or disagree with the author’s theme.

*There may be more than one theme in a text.

• A writer doesn’t usually state the theme directly.

o You probably wouldn’t want to read a story that begins this way:

Discovering the Theme

• The writer usually wants you to discover the theme for yourself.

“This is a story that shows character matters more than size.”

• One way to discover theme is by analyzing the characters in a story.

o How does the main character change during the story?

o What does this change say about life or about people in general?

Discovering the Theme

Which scenes or passages seem to be most important? What ideas about life do they suggest?

Discovering the Theme

Look at the story’s title. What hints does it give you about the story’s meaning?

There are also other ways to discover theme—other questions you can ask.

• When we can identify a theme, we can learn from the experiences of others! We can chose to apply these lessons to our own lives.

• Not only do themes help us understand the story, they may help us be happier and wiser individuals!

Why bother to figure out a story’s theme?

Purpose of Evaluating the Theme

• You can look at the theme closely and decide if it fits with what you know about life.

• You don’t have to like the way a story ends.

Evaluating the Theme

• You don’t have to agree with a theme, either.

Sometimes the hero

dies?

Why didn’t they get

back together?

• Themes focus on the “big” topics in everyone’s life:

LoveLoss

Responsibility

Ambition

Friendship

“Big” Ideas

• Remember, a theme is not just one word. • The author makes a statement about these common

topics.

• Themes focus on the “big” topics in everyone’s life:

Falling in love can be

painfulDeath is a difficult

but important part of life

Helping others can

lead to personal

fulfillment

Being too ambitious can

lead to unhappiness

Friendships can grow and change over

time

“Big” Ideas

• Remember, a theme is not just a word. • The author makes a statement about these common

topics.

Moral Vs. Theme: HOW CAN WE TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

Moral Theme

o The lesson or principle contained in or taught by the story.

o A concisely expressed guideline.

o Moral is often stated outright.

o Morals often appear at the end of a fable.

o A moral is a piece of practical advice that can be applied to our own lives.

o Like the kind of advice a mom would give: “Slow and steady wins the race!”

o Theme refers to the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

o What the author wants the reader to understand from of the text.

o Theme usually needs to be inferred.

o Theme is a universal truth about life.

o A theme is more complex than a moral

o From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: A reader could infer the theme that “Selflessness brings the greatest reward.”

Theme Vs. Subject:HOW CAN WE TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

Subject Theme

o The who or what

oCan be one word

o Example Subject: Puppy Mills

o The underlying meaning of a literary work.

o The message (more than one word)

o Example Theme: All animals should be treated humanely.

1. What does each character want?

On a beautiful summer afternoon, Grasshopper lay on his back on a leaf, gazing at clouds and humming a little grasshopper song. This was Grasshopper’s favorite thing to do—all day, every day. By and by, Grasshopper’s good friend Ant came by, struggling under a heavy load. “Are you crazy?” Grasshopper sneered at the ant. “It’s way too beautiful outside to work!” “You said that yesterday, Grasshopper,” Ant replied. “And the day before, and the day before, and the day before. . . .” “That’s right, Ant. It’s always too beautiful to work! That’s what I say!”

Let’s Try It Practice

1. What does each character want?

Grasshopper wants to lie around all day.

Ant wants to get some work done.

On a beautiful summer afternoon, Grasshopper lay on his back on a leaf, gazing at clouds and humming a little grasshopper song. This was Grasshopper’s favorite thing to do—all day, every day. By and by, Grasshopper’s good friend Ant came by, struggling under a heavy load. “Are you crazy?” Grasshopper sneered at the ant. “It’s way too beautiful outside to work!” “You said that yesterday, Grasshopper,” Ant replied. “And the day before, and the day before, and the day before. . . .” “That’s right, Ant. It’s always too beautiful to work! That’s what I say!”

Let’s Try ItPractice

2. Why does Ant want to work?

3. What happens when winter comes?

4. Why is Ant hesitant about helping Grass-hopper?

“True, but there’s a little chill in the air, Grasshopper. I’ve got to get ready for winter.” “Time enough for that, Ant. Maybe tomorrow.” Grasshopper leaned back and started humming again. Ant trudged on. By and by, the little chill became a freeze. Ant and his family were cozy and warm in their anthill as the snow began falling. One night, Ant heard a little tapping and went to the door. There stood Grasshopper, shivering and slapping his skinny legs to keep warm. “Let me in, Ant, old buddy. It’s cold out here, and I’m so hungry.” “I don’t know about that, Grasshopper. You’re pretty big for this house, and you probably eat more than all of us put together.”

Let’s Try It Practice

2. Why does Ant want to work?Ant agrees it’s a beautiful day, but he needs to get ready for winter.

“True, but there’s a little chill in the air, Grasshopper. I’ve got to get ready for winter.” “Time enough for that, Ant. Maybe tomorrow.” Grasshopper leaned back and started humming again. Ant trudged on. By and by, the little chill became a freeze. Ant and his family were cozy and warm in their anthill as the snow began falling. One night, Ant heard a little tapping and went to the door. There stood Grasshopper, shivering and slapping his skinny legs to keep warm. “Let me in, Ant, old buddy. It’s cold out here, and I’m so hungry.” “I don’t know about that, Grasshopper. You’re pretty big for this house, and you probably eat more than all of us put together.”

3. What happens when winter comes? Grasshopper wants Ant to feed him and give him a warm place to stay.

4. Why is Ant hesitant about helping Grasshopper?

Ant is afraid there won’t be enough for Grasshopper and Ant’s family.

PRACTICELet’s Try It

5. Without knowing the end of the story, what do you think is a possible theme for the story?

Let’s Try It

“True, but there’s a little chill in the air, Grasshopper. I’ve got to get ready for winter.” “Time enough for that, Ant. Maybe tomorrow.” Grasshopper leaned back and started humming again. Ant trudged on. By and by, the little chill became a freeze. Ant and his family were cozy and warm in their anthill as the snow began falling. One night, Ant heard a little tapping and went to the door. There stood Grasshopper, shivering and slapping his skinny legs to keep warm. “Let me in, Ant, old buddy. It’s cold out here, and I’m so hungry.” “I don’t know about that, Grasshopper. You’re pretty big for this house, and you probably eat more than all of us put together.”

Practice

6. Without knowing the end of the story, what do you think is a possible theme for the story?

Possible themes:

• Plan for the future.

• You get back what you put in.

“True, but there’s a little chill in the air, Grasshopper. I’ve got to get ready for winter.” “Time enough for that, Ant. Maybe tomorrow.” Grasshopper leaned back and started humming again. Ant trudged on. By and by, the little chill became a freeze. Ant and his family were cozy and warm in their anthill as the snow began falling. One night, Ant heard a little tapping and went to the door. There stood Grasshopper, shivering and slapping his skinny legs to keep warm. “Let me in, Ant, old buddy. It’s cold out here, and I’m so hungry.” “I don’t know about that, Grasshopper. You’re pretty big for this house, and you probably eat more than all of us put together.”

Let’s Try It Practice

Here’s one resolution for the story.

7. Does this ending introduce another theme?

Let’s Try It

Ant shut the door in Grasshopper’s face. He’d worked hard all summer while that lazy Grasshopper sat around humming. Too bad for him, Ant thought, and went back to warm his hands at the fireplace.

6. Does this ending change the theme?

Practice

7. Does this ending change the theme? No. There is still a

theme about the consequences of playing all the time and not planning for the future.

Ant shut the door in Grasshopper’s face. He’d worked hard all summer while that lazy Grasshopper sat around humming. Too bad for him, Ant thought, and went back to warm his hands at the fireplace.

Let’s Try It

8. Does this ending introduce another theme?

Yes.

You can’t always count on friends to rescue you from your mistakes.

Practice

Here is a different ending…

9. Does this ending change the theme?

“Please, please, Ant! Just until the snow stops falling. I’ll do anything—and I’ll never be lazy again!”

“Oh, all right,” said the kindhearted Ant. “I could use your help in the spring anyway.”

10. Does this ending introduce another theme?

Let’s Try It Practice

9. Does this ending change the theme? “Please, please, Ant! Just until the snow

stops falling. I’ll do anything—and I’ll never be lazy again!”

“Oh, all right,” said the kindhearted Ant. “I could use your help in the spring anyway.”

10. Does this ending introduce another theme?

Let’s Try It PracticeMaybe, maybe not. The work theme doesn’t seem quite as strong because Grasshopper doesn’t suffer consequences.

Yes.

Friendship is more important than being “right.”

Mood

•Definition: the feelings that the reader experiences as they read a story. oMood = Me (the reader)oMood is how I feel while I read. oThe setting, dialogue, and descriptive details help to create the mood.

Tone•Definition: the attitude and emotion that the author wants to express in the story. oTone = Them (the author)oThey can’t use the tone of their voice, so they have to use words to show how they feel.oThe tone will be one of the following:

1. Positive2. Negative3. Neutral

POSITIVE TONE

• A positive tone might be:o Cheerful, humorous, hopeful,

joyful, romantic, lighthearted, excited, proud

EXAMPLE:

• Sammy Sosa, although he had a few downfalls, is a courageous young man who, with his homerun streak turned baseball around for the better.

• Highlight the positive words.

NEGATIVE TONE

• A negative tone might be:o Sorrowful, shameful, fearful,

bored, angry, sarcastic, hesitant

EXAMPLE:

• Sammy Sosa was a liar who corked his bat and cheated, ruining the sport of baseball.

• Highlight the negative words.

NEUTRAL TONE

• A neutral tone doesn’t show strong feelings one way or another.

• Strictly Factual

EXAMPLE:

• Sammy Sosa hit 56 homeruns this year while on the Chicago Cubs.

• Highlight any facts.

If the TONE is: Serious

The MOOD could be:

• Sad

• Scared

• Ashamed

• Nervous

If the TONE is: Sarcastic

The MOOD could be:

• Amused

• Offended

• Entertained

If the TONE is: Cheerful

The MOOD could be:

What is the difference between

tone and mood? •Tone is the attitude/emotions of the author.

•Mood is the attitude/emotions of the reader.