Understanding theme | Reading | Khan Academy

Summary

In this insightful video, David explores the concept of themes in storytelling, distinguishing them from plot or summary. Themes, he explains, are universal ideas that resonate beyond the narrative, often posing questions about life and providing answers. Using the folk tale of Anansi the Spider, David illustrates how themes can be uncovered by examining characters' growth and the lasting impact of the story. The tale of Anansi, who learns humility and the value of shared wisdom, serves as a prime example, suggesting that 'Anyone can have a good idea' or 'Wisdom is inside all of us.'

Takeaways

• 📚 A theme is an important idea woven throughout a story, linking a big idea with the action of the text.
• 🔍 Themes are deeper than the plot or summary, offering a lesson or message that can be applied to life.
• 🧠 Themes are universal, meaning anyone can relate to them, unlike specific details in a story.
• 💡 Themes are different from the main idea or summary; they focus on the lessons or messages rather than what happened.
• ❓ You can discover a theme by asking questions like, 'What did the characters learn?' or 'What stays with you after the story is over?'
• 🕸️ The story of Anansi the Spider illustrates the theme that 'Wisdom is inside all of us' and 'Anyone can have a good idea.'
• 👨‍👦 Anansi learns that even with all the wisdom in the world, a child can still have a better idea.
• ⚖️ The story teaches that keeping wisdom to oneself doesn't make one the wisest; sharing it is important.
• 🌍 At the end of the story, wisdom is shared with everyone, symbolizing that everyone has a piece of Anansi's knowledge.
• 🎓 The overarching theme of the script is that you can learn anything, encouraging continuous learning.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a theme and the main idea of a story?

The main idea of a story is what the story is all about, essentially the plot or summary of events. A theme, on the other hand, is a deeper, universal idea or lesson that can be applied to life beyond the story itself.

How does the script define the term 'theme'?

The script defines a theme as an important idea that is woven throughout a story, linking a big idea about our world with the action of the text, and often answering a question the story is trying to explore.

What is the example given in the script to illustrate the difference between a theme and a summary?

The script uses the example of a story about getting food poisoning from eating a sketchy roadside hot dog. The summary would be the events that led to the food poisoning, while the theme is the lesson or message 'It pays to be prepared,' which is a universal idea.

How does the script relate the concept of a theme to the story of Anansi the Spider?

The script uses the story of Anansi the Spider to show how themes can be discovered by asking big questions about the characters' learning, growth, and actions, and what stays with the reader after the story is over.

What does Anansi learn from the incident with the pot of wisdom in the story?

Anansi learns that he is not the only one with good ideas and that even with all the wisdom in the world, a child could still have a better idea than him.

How does Anansi's character evolve by the end of the story?

Anansi's character evolves by realizing that he was greedy and that keeping all the wisdom to himself did not make him the wisest all the time. He also learns to apologize and acknowledge the value of others' ideas.

What is the moral of the story about Anansi the Spider, as opposed to the theme?

The moral of the story could be seen as the specific lesson that wisdom should be shared and not hoarded, while the theme is more universal, suggesting that wisdom is inside all of us and anyone can have a good idea.

What method does the script suggest for discovering the theme of a story?

The script suggests asking oneself big questions such as what the characters learned, how they grew and changed, why they acted the way they did, what is different at the end of the story, and what stays with the reader after the story is over.

What is the overarching theme of all of David's videos mentioned in the script?

The overarching theme of all of David's videos is that 'you can learn anything,' emphasizing the potential for personal growth and knowledge acquisition.

How does the script encourage viewers to engage with the concept of themes?

The script encourages viewers to discuss the theme of the story with friends, classmates, and family, and to consider what theme they would give to the story of Anansi the Spider.

What is the significance of the pot of wisdom in the story of Anansi the Spider?

The pot of wisdom in the story symbolizes the accumulation of knowledge and the idea that wisdom should not be hoarded but shared, as it ultimately flows out to everyone after the pot breaks.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Story Themes

David introduces the concept of themes in storytelling, explaining that themes are deeper ideas that run through a narrative, distinct from the plot or summary. He emphasizes that themes are universal and can be applied to real life, contrasting them with morals and the main idea. David uses the example of food poisoning to illustrate the difference between a specific event and its broader life lesson. He encourages viewers to consider the characters' growth and the lasting impact of the story to uncover its theme.

05:02

🕷 The Tale of Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom

This section narrates a folk tale about Anansi the Spider, who sought to gather all the world's wisdom into a pot. His fear of losing this wisdom leads him to hide it, but his son Ntikuma's innocent suggestion results in the pot being accidentally thrown into a stream, spreading the wisdom across the world. David uses this story to explore themes of humility, the value of sharing knowledge, and the recognition that wisdom can come from unexpected sources. Anansi's growth is evident as he learns from his mistake and acknowledges his son's contribution. The story concludes with a reflection on the universality of wisdom and the idea that everyone possesses a piece of it.

Keywords

💡Theme

A 'theme' is an underlying message or significant idea that is explored throughout a story. It is not the plot itself but a deeper concept that ties the narrative to a broader understanding of life. In the video, the theme is central to understanding the story of Anansi, as it is used to illustrate that wisdom can come from anyone and is not confined to one individual or source, highlighting the universality of ideas.

💡Plot

The 'plot' refers to the sequence of events that make up a story. It is the structure that holds the narrative together. In the script, the plot is the story of Anansi trying to hoard all the wisdom in the world and the subsequent events that lead to the wisdom being shared with everyone, which contrasts with the deeper theme of the story.

💡Summary

A 'summary' is a brief statement or account of the main points of something, in this case, the story. The script distinguishes between the summary, which is the recounting of events, and the theme, which is the deeper meaning or lesson. The summary of Anansi's tale would recount his attempt to hide wisdom and the accidental sharing of it, while the theme delves into the implications of these events.

💡Main Idea

The 'main idea' of a story is what it is fundamentally about. It is the central point or argument that the narrative is built around. The script mentions that the main idea is different from the theme, with the main idea being the basic concept of Anansi's story, which is about his quest for wisdom, whereas the theme explores the broader implications of that quest.

💡Lesson

A 'lesson' is a moral or principle derived from a narrative. It is a teaching point that the audience can take away and apply to their lives. The script suggests that themes can be lessons, as they convey insights or wisdom. In Anansi's story, the lesson could be that no one has a monopoly on wisdom or good ideas, as illustrated by Anansi's realization and the distribution of wisdom.

💡Universal

When something is 'universal,' it means that it is applicable or understandable to all people, regardless of their background or context. The script emphasizes that themes are universal, suggesting that the theme of Anansi's story—that wisdom is within everyone—resonates with people everywhere, because everyone has the potential for wisdom.

💡Moral

A 'moral' is a specific lesson or principle derived from a story, often with the intention of imparting a value or behavior. While similar to a theme, a moral is more prescriptive, telling the audience what they should do or believe. The script contrasts the theme with the moral, indicating that while a theme can be a lesson, it is not always prescriptive like a moral.

💡Character Growth

Character growth refers to the development or change that a character undergoes throughout a story. In the script, Anansi's character growth is highlighted as he learns from his mistake and acknowledges that his son's idea was better, showing personal development and humility.

💡Wisdom

'Wisdom' in the script represents knowledge, understanding, and good judgment. It is the central object of Anansi's quest and the source of the story's theme. The concept of wisdom is explored through Anansi's desire to possess it all, the accidental spreading of it, and the final realization that wisdom is not confined but shared.

💡Folk Tale

A 'folk tale' is a story originating in oral tradition, often involving cultural heroes or animals with human qualities. The script uses the folk tale of Anansi the Spider to convey the theme that wisdom is not exclusive but inherent within everyone. Folk tales often carry cultural values and universal themes, making them relatable across different societies.

💡Heroic Trickster

A 'heroic trickster' is a character archetype that uses cunning or deceit for positive outcomes, often defying norms or expectations. Anansi is described as a heroic trickster, which is key to understanding his character and actions. His cleverness is both his strength and the catalyst for the story's events and its theme of shared wisdom.

Highlights

A theme is an important idea woven throughout a story, distinct from the plot or summary.

Themes link big ideas about our world with the action of a text, sometimes answering exploratory questions.

Themes are statements that answer questions like 'What does it mean to be a family?' or 'What are we afraid of?'

The main idea and summary of a story differ from its theme, which is a universal lesson or message.

Themes can be discovered by asking big questions about character growth, actions, and lasting impacts.

The folk tale of Anansi the Spider is used to illustrate the process of uncovering a story's theme.

Anansi's desire to gather all wisdom in a pot highlights the theme of seeking knowledge.

Anansi's fear of losing the pot of wisdom leads to a decision to hide it, showing his protective nature.

Anansi's son Ntikuma's following and advice demonstrate the theme of unexpected wisdom from the young.

The pot of wisdom shattering and spreading knowledge symbolizes the theme of shared wisdom.

Anansi's realization of his son's better idea and his subsequent apology reflect character growth.

The story concludes with the theme that wisdom is not solely the possession of one but is shared among all.

The theme of the story could be 'Anyone can have a good idea' or 'Wisdom is inside all of us.'

Themes are universal and can be related to by anyone, making them a powerful storytelling tool.

The video's overarching theme is that anyone can learn anything, emphasizing the potential for knowledge acquisition.

The importance of discussing themes with others to gain diverse perspectives is highlighted.

Transcripts

- [David] Hello, readers.

Today I want to talk about themes.

A theme is an important idea

that is woven throughout a story.

It's not the plot or the summary,

but something a little deeper.

A theme links a big idea about our world

with the action of a text.

Sometimes a theme answers a question

the story is trying to explore,

like, "What does it mean to be a family?"

Or, "What are we afraid of?"

Themes will be statements that answer these questions,

like, "You don't have to be related to someone

"for them to be your family."

Or, "We are afraid of losing our individuality."

Now, theme is different from the main idea

of a story or its summary.

The main idea is what the story's all about,

and the summary is the events of the story.

It's the plot, it's what happened.

But the theme is a lesson or a message

that you can take out of the story

and apply to your own life.

Themes are universal.

That is to say, anyone can relate to them.

So if I tell you a story about how I got food poisoning

the one time I ate a sketchy roadside hot dog

instead of packing my own lunch,

the theme isn't, "Avoid Sticky Pete's hot dogs on Route 91."

The theme is "It pays to be prepared,"

because not everyone has a Sticky Pete's,

but everyone can be prepared.

Ugh, why did I eat it?

Why is it green?

A theme is similar to a moral.

But a moral is more about a specific lesson

it's trying to teach you.

A theme could be a lesson, but it doesn't have to be.

Sometimes you can discover the theme

by asking yourself some big questions.

What did the characters learn?

How did they grow and change?

Why did characters act the way they acted?

What's different at the end of the story?

And what stays with you after the story is over?

Let's go through a folk tale

and see if answering these questions

helps us to uncover the theme.

This is a story about Anansi the Spider,

a heroic trickster from West Africa.

Anansi was clever, but he wished to be wise.

Wiser than everyone, in fact.

He decided that he'd take all the wisdom he could find,

all the wisdom in the whole world,

and gather it all inside a little clay pot.

But he didn't like having it in the house,

this pot of knowledge.

"What if our kid knocks it over?" he asked his wife, Aso.

"What if someone comes over in the night and steals it?"

"Who's coming to steal your pot, Anansi?" she asked.

"Nobody even knows you have it."

"It's not safe," Anansi cried.

And he decided to hide it.

"I'm going out," he said, "Don't follow me."

"Whatever," said Aso, who went back

to doing something that was actually useful.

Anansi wandered through the forest,

lugging this enormous clay pot of wisdom,

never aware that his little son, Ntikuma,

was following close behind.

"Not tall enough," said Anansi, looking at a cliff.

"Not deep enough," he said, frowning at a canyon.

"Ah-ha," said Anansi when he came to the prickly thorn tree

at the edge of the forest near a little stream.

"Now, this will do just fine."

Anansi had many legs, and he was very strong.

But even he could not climb the tree

and carry the pot of knowledge at the same time.

He scrabbled up the tree, then slid back down again.

He wiggled up the tree, then slid back down again.

He clambered up the tree.

"Hey, Dad," Anansi's son called out.

"What, what?

"I said nobody follow me.

"What are you doing here?" Anansi cried.

"You should tie the pot to your back, Dad.

"Then you can use all your legs to climb the tree."

He was right, but it didn't matter to Anansi.

"I'll teach ya to give me advice, you little miscreant,"

Anansi yelled, shaking his fist,

the same fist that held the handle

to the pot full of wisdom.

It went sailing into the air as time seemed to slow down.

"Oh no," said Anansi.

"Oh no," said Anansi's little son.

And the pot smashed open right there in the stream,

carrying all of Anansi's carefully gathered up knowledge

into the ocean, sending it out

to the whole world once again.

"You are in so much trouble, Ntikuma!" Anansi said,

clambering back down the tree.

And then he said, "Ow, ow, ow," because in his haste,

he had poked himself on the thorns of the tree.

His son took of running for home,

and Anansi raced after him.

And as they ran, it began to rain.

And as the rain came down, Anansi stopped running

and began to walk and think.

"Ntikuma's plan would have worked after all."

When he at least caught up with Ntikuma,

he apologized for losing his temper.

"What was the use of all that wisdom

"if I can still be outsmarted by my little son?" he said.

The two of them embraced,

and because of Ntikuma's timely interruption,

a little bit of Anansi's knowledge lives in us all today.

So our questions checklist.

What did the characters learn?

Well, Anansi learned that even if he had

all the wisdom in the world,

a child could still have a better idea than him.

How did the characters grow and change?

Anansi apologized for losing his temper

and realized that he wasn't the only person with good ideas.

"Why did characters act the way they acted?"

I think Anansi was greedy.

Why else would he wanna have all the wisdom in the world

and not share it without anybody else?

And, "What's different at the end of the story?"

At the end of the story, everybody gets

a little bit from the pot of wisdom.

It flows out into the ocean and gets sent to everybody.

And Anansi realized that keeping all the wisdom to himself

still didn't make him the wisest all the time.

Finally, "What stays with you after the story is over?"

The fact that all of us, you, me, your Aunt Matilda,

all of us have a little bit of Anansi's wisdom inside of us.

So a theme of this story could be,

"Anyone can have a good idea,"

or, "Wisdom is inside all of us."

What theme would you give this story?

Discuss it with your friends, your classmates, your family.

And let us know.

The theme of all of my videos is and shall forever be

that you can learn anything.

David out.