Possible themes include:
Note: Students may come up with other valid themes. The key is that they should be able to support their ideas with evidence from the text.
Example answers for the theme "The thin line between civilized behavior and savagery":
1. Theme: The thin line between civilized behavior and savagery
2. How it's shown in the story: General Zaroff appears to be a cultured and sophisticated man, living in a luxurious chateau. However, he engages in the barbaric practice of hunting humans for sport. This shows how a seemingly civilized person can harbor savage tendencies. Additionally, Rainsford, who initially disapproves of Zaroff's game, ends up embracing the hunt and presumably killing Zaroff at the end, showing how circumstances can push a "civilized" person to savage acts.
3. How it applies to real life: This theme reminds us that even in modern society, people can sometimes act in uncivilized or cruel ways when put in extreme situations or when they have unchecked power. It encourages us to examine our own moral boundaries and the circumstances that might challenge them.
Possible answer:
After completing this worksheet, I understand that themes are more than just what a story is about. They are bigger ideas about life or human nature that the author wants us to think about. I've learned that themes can be applied to situations outside the story, which makes them different from main ideas. I also now know that there can be multiple themes in a single story, and that it's important to support theme ideas with evidence from the text. This has made me realize that thinking about themes can help me understand stories on a deeper level and connect them to real-life situations.