- 1). Read the title and look at the cover illustration to identify any clues about the theme.
- 2). Read the story and identify the story structure. Most short stories focus on a basic problem and its resolution, while texts for upper elementary students may contain both major and minor problems and resolutions. The problem often relates to the story's theme.
- 3). Study the plot of the story, including details of events leading up to the crisis and affecting its resolution. Repeated phrases, symbols or sequences of events may help indicate the theme. Consider any elements of the plot that might have a non-literal interpretation.
- 4). Examine the physical appearance, actions and speech of the main characters, as well as their interactions with other characters. The theme may center around a mental, physical or emotional change in the main character.
- 5). Combine information about the story's central problem, patterns of symbols or events, and the evolution of the character to identify the theme.
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