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Comprehension
Lesson 1		 Understanding Theme/Message, and Supportive Details
   Objectives/Vocab/Tips > Examples 1 | 2 | 3 > Practice: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 > Self Check
Example 1:

To use some of the tips and tools we reviewed, let's examine several examples of questions about theme or main idea, and supporting details.

Instruction:

Click on the book icon to the right to read the poem Birdfoot's Grampa, by Joseph Bruchac. Then keep the poem open while we go through the question and explanations.

Question:

Which sentence best states the theme of this poem?


Birdfoot's Grampa  

Remember to:

  • Read the question before reading the passage.
  • Look at the title. What might we infer (know, guess, predict) about "Birdfoot's" name? Yes, it sounds like a Native American name.
  • Think about what we might already know about Native American beliefs? Yes, historically, they have a deep and abiding respect for nature.

Think:

  • What are the key words in this question? (best, theme)
  • Which choices can you eliminate right away, and which are possibly correct answers? Remember the "YES, NO, MAYBE" tool.

Multiple Choice Answers:

  1. There are some things we must accept in life.
    Think to yourself:     Birdfoot expresses this idea as he encourages his Grampa to just get back in the car and forget saving all the frogs. "You can't save them all, accept it, get in, we've got places to go." However, the last stanza shows Grampa continuing to gather and save the "wet brown life" so we know he does not agree with Birdfoot's "accept it" idea. This would be one idea in the poem, but it is not the main idea (message, theme) connecting all the events in the poem. You would choose NO for this response.

  2. Disagreements often occur during family trips.
    Think to yourself:     Birdfoot wants Grampa to keep driving, and Grampa wants to save frogs, so there might be a disagreement here. However, the focus of the poem is not on the disagreement, but more on the saving of frogs. Again, this is ONE idea, but definitely NOT the THEME (main idea, message) connecting all the events in the poem. Again, you would choose NO for this response.

  3. The lives of all nature's creatures are important.
    Think to yourself: Grampa stops his car over and over and over to save the lives of frogs on the road. He definitely is taking care of nature's creature. Even though Birdfoot encourages him to keep driving because they have "places to go," Grampa "just smiled and said, 'They have places to go, too.'" He shows by his ACTIONS that he believes the frogs' plans are as important as the plans of people. Yes, this sentence connects all events and is a good statement of theme (main idea, message) for this poem. It is not difficult to believe that Grampa would stop the car for any animal in the road. Remember the theme or message of a passage is a BIG statement of truth about life or people, or even animals in this case.

  4. Careless driving poses a threat to nature's creatures.
    Think to yourself:     We've decided C is a good answer already, but we need to look at the last option as well. This is the least valid statement of theme for this poem. Look at each word. We don't even know that Grampa is driving "carelessly" as the sentence states. Certainly it is a true statement, but it is a very long stretch to say it connects the events in this poem as a main idea. Eliminate this answer quickly.

Example 2 >>

 
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