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A theme is the central message or meaning of a literary work. It is usually not stated directly but needs to be inferred by the reader. It is a general conclusion or lesson about human nature or society. An example of a theme might be, “Money can’t buy happiness.” Below you will find reading comprehension passages that can be used for instruction on themes. Check out our theme anchor chart resources too!
In the story, Tom Egerton and Bertie Fellows are students at an English boarding school. Both have to stay at school over the Christmas holiday. Tom’s parents are in India, which is too far for him to go for the holiday. Bertie’s sister is sick, so he cannot go home…
The box of crayons was filled with an assortment of colors. They were stuffed in tightly together, and many of them were not happy. The problem was that every color in the box thought it was the most important. The blue colors, from the very light to the very…
There was once a prince who wanted to marry a princess. But she must be a real princess, mind you. So he traveled all round the world, seeking such a one, but everywhere something was in the way. Not that there was any lack of princesses, but he could not…
In the classic novel Little Women, readers follow the adventures of the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. In this passage, the family, along with Laurie Laurence, the young man next door, are preparing a house for Meg and her future husband, Mr. Brooke. Hannah is the March…
Grace watched out the window as her friend Mia rode up on a new green bike. “Grace! Come out and see my new bike,” yelled Mia. Grace grabbed her sweater and raced out the door. “Mia, that’s a gorgeous bike. I saw it in McGregor’s store. I asked my mom…
Early one morning, three little birds sat together on a fence. Stan was a blackbird. Jan was a bluebird. And Little Sue was a tiny brown sparrow. The birds were friends. They liked to talk before breakfast. “I am very, very hungry,” said Stan. He scratched his black belly with…
Nathanael took a deep breath and limped out of the room. “They denied my election as an officer. I didn’t make it because of my stiff knee. The committee feels that an officer with a limp will appear weak to his men and to the enemy.” “Tough going, friend,” said…
Ralphie was getting bored in his geography class. Mr. Hudson projected a map of Europe up on the whiteboard, and asked someone to turn off the lights so they could see it better. “I’ll do it,” said Ralphie, and he popped a paper spitball into a straw and blew it…
Little Women is about Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March. They are fours sisters growing up during the Civil War. Their father is a chaplain with the Union Army, and the family does not have much money. In this passage, Mrs. March has just returned home. The girls have been…
Milo was a friendly cat. He liked to go exploring in the town where he lived. Along the way, people would smile and say, “There goes Milo!” Sometimes they would stop and scratch him under the chin. Milo liked to visit the school. He would stand by the doors,…
