Chapter 3: Themes & Main Ideas

Question 1

What is a literary motif?

Answer 1

A reoccurring symbol, idea, image, or object throughout the story.

Ex. Handmaid’s Tale: power and control

Question 2

What is a literary symbol?

Answer 2

An image or idea presented throughout a work that draws the readers attention

Question 3

What is a literary theme?

Answer 3

A broad central idea in a story.

Question 4

What is the difference between motif and theme?

Answer 4

Motifs are recurring concepts used to reinforce a theme in a story

Question 5

What is the difference between a motif and a symbol?

Answer 5

These both represent images, sounds, ideas, or words, but a motif is used to help explain a story’s theme.

Question 6

What is the main idea in a story?

Answer 6

The overall main point

The “What happened?”

Question 7

What are supporting details in a story?

Answer 7

Information, details, or points of discussion that support the main idea

Question 8

How is a main idea presented in non-fiction writing?

Answer 8

It can be in either a thesis statement of an essay or a topic sentence of a paragraph.

Question 9

What is a restatement?

Answer 9

A way to express the same message using different words

Question 10

What does it mean to paraphrase?

Answer 10

Taking information from a verified source and presenting it in your own words

Question 11

What are three types of paraphrasing?

Answer 11

-Clarity
-Organization
-Abstract/Concrete Understanding