Success Homeschool

Primary 6 English · Author perspective and theme

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

1. What do we call the big idea or message about life that a story explores? (one word)
2. Which of these is a theme rather than a topic?
- ☐ (a) Friendship
- ☐ (b) A school lunchtime
- ☐ (c) Small acts of kindness can change someone's life.
- ☐ (d) Two girls
3. In 'The Spare Seat', which detail most makes readers feel sympathy for Nadia?
- ☐ (a) She sat by the library.
- ☐ (b) She was still called 'the new girl' months after she arrived.
- ☐ (c) Jordan was class captain.
- ☐ (d) There was sport practice.
4. Which is the best clue to an author's perspective?
- ☐ (a) The number of pages
- ☐ (b) Which characters are rewarded or criticised
- ☐ (c) The font used in the book
- ☐ (d) The price of the book
5. What word means the way someone sees the world, shaped by their experiences and values? (one word)
6. In 'The Spare Seat', which character changes most by learning something new?
- ☐ (a) Nadia
- ☐ (b) Jordan
- ☐ (c) Jordan's friends
- ☐ (d) The librarian
7. A story ends with a greedy king losing everything while a generous farmer is celebrated. What theme is the author most likely suggesting?
- ☐ (a) Kings are always unhappy.
- ☐ (b) Farming is hard work.
- ☐ (c) Generosity is rewarded, while greed leads to loss.
- ☐ (d) Money is the most important thing.
8. Why might two readers word a story's theme differently?
- ☐ (a) Because one of them must be wrong
- ☐ (b) Because stories have no themes
- ☐ (c) Because a story can support more than one theme, as long as there is evidence
- ☐ (d) Because themes are always stated in the first line

Answer sheet

1. theme — A theme is a message about life, shown through the story.
2. Small acts of kindness can change someone's life. — A theme is a full statement about life. The others are topics or details.
3. She was still called 'the new girl' months after she arrived. — This detail shows she has been left out unfairly for a long time.
4. Which characters are rewarded or criticised — What an author rewards or criticises shows what they value.
5. perspective — An author's perspective influences the choices they make in a story.
6. Jordan — Jordan discovers that Nadia is worth knowing and that she draws brilliant comics.
7. Generosity is rewarded, while greed leads to loss. — The rewards and punishments in the ending point to this message.
8. Because a story can support more than one theme, as long as there is evidence — Stories can explore several big ideas. A theme is valid if the text supports it.