Theme Analysis | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	Perseverance and inner strength can overcome any obstacle. (or similar) Accept any theme statement that captures the idea of resilience, determination, or rising above challenges.
2	Text A develops the theme through character change - Mira transforms from someone who quits to someone who finishes. The most important element is character development, showing her internal journey from wanting to turn back to declaring she'll never quit again.
3	Text B develops the theme through repetition ("I rise") and powerful imagery (dust, air, ocean). The most effective technique is the refrain "I rise" which builds intensity and emphasizes unstoppable determination.
4	Answers will vary. Students should explain their preference with reasoning - the story may feel more relatable through its specific situation, while the poem may feel more universal and emotionally powerful.
5	Text A: "I'm never going to be the person who quits again" (or similar quote showing determination). Text B: "But still, like air, I'll rise" (or any "I rise" line or powerful imagery).

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. The choices we make define who we become and give our lives meaning. Both texts explore how meaningful choices shape identity and create purpose.
2	The story develops the theme through Marcus's character arc - his choice to sell his prized collection to help the Rodriguez family. His decision to prioritize people over possessions ("They were just things. You're my neighbor.") and the resulting sense of fulfillment ("Something that mattered more") shows how meaningful choices define us.
3	The poem develops the theme through the extended metaphor of two roads representing life choices. The speaker's decision to take "the one less traveled by" and the recognition that this choice "has made all the difference" shows how our decisions shape our lives.
4	B. "Something that mattered more." This connects to the poem's message that choices create meaning ("made all the difference").
5	The story uses specific characters (Marcus, the Rodriguez family) and concrete events (fire, selling cards) to show how one choice transforms someone. The poem uses the metaphor of diverging roads to represent any life choice, making the message universal and applicable to any reader's decisions.
6	B. People often hide their true feelings and struggles behind a public face.
7	Tyler illustrates the "mask" by using humor and disruption to hide his family's struggles. His "class clown" behavior was a public face hiding private pain about his father's job loss. Just as the poem describes smiling while hearts bleed, Tyler joked while dealing with serious problems at home.
8	B. "The mask that grins and lies" This describes Tyler's clown behavior that hid his true situation.
9	Story: "My dad lost his job. We might have to move. I've been... dealing with that." (or similar showing hidden struggle). Poem: "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile" or "We wear the mask that grins and lies" (any line showing hidden pain).
10	Jasmine learns that "the people we dismiss often have stories we haven't bothered to hear." This connects to the poem's message about the masks people wear - we can't judge others by their public behavior because we don't know what they're hiding or struggling with privately.
11	B. True success is found in how we treat others and make a positive impact.
12	Priya wins the competition but feels "empty" until she reaches out to help Darnell. This supports Emerson's idea that success means making others' lives better ("to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived"). Priya's offer to help Darnell practice "changed what victory meant."
13	B. "to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived" Priya's decision to help Darnell reflects this definition of success.
14	The story uses narrative to show success redefined through Priya's emotional journey - we see her emptiness after winning and then her satisfaction after helping Darnell. The poem uses a list format to directly define success through multiple criteria. The story lets us experience the lesson; the poem states it directly for reflection.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. True strength comes from maintaining your dignity and effort regardless of outcome.
2	B. Aisha transforms from exhaustion to determination, choosing effort over surrender.
3	B. "My head is bloody, but unbowed" Both the grandmother and this line emphasize that dignity in struggle matters more than winning.
4	A. The story uses concrete details (score, teammates) to show theme; the poem uses metaphor and imagery to make the theme apply to any struggle.
5	B. Holding onto and pursuing dreams creates meaningful change and purpose.
6	C. "A barren field frozen with snow" The abandoned building represented hopelessness and emptiness before Dante's project brought it to life.
7	B. Dante persisted through rejection and opposition until his dream became reality.
8	A. dialogue and specific events; repetition and metaphor
9	See rubric and sample response below.
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric (Theme Development Comparison)

Score	Criteria
2	Clearly explains how BOTH texts develop the theme, provides specific evidence from EACH text, and shows understanding of how inner strength matters more than external outcomes
1	Addresses both texts but with weak evidence from one, OR provides strong analysis of only one text
0	Does not address both texts, provides no specific evidence, or misunderstands the theme

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Both texts develop the theme that inner strength matters more than external outcomes. In "The Final Game," Aisha's team loses by four points, but she feels "pride" because she "played her hardest until the final buzzer." Her grandmother confirms this: "Victory isn't always about the scoreboard... it's about the person you become in the struggle." In "Invictus," the speaker faces extreme hardship ("bludgeonings of chance") but remains "unbowed" and declares "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Both texts show that maintaining effort and dignity matters more than winning.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Genre Comparison)

Score	Criteria
2	Clearly compares narrative vs. poetic approaches, explains what each accomplishes differently, states which is more effective with reasoning
1	Compares approaches but with limited explanation, OR does not justify which is more effective
0	Does not compare approaches meaningfully, or response does not address genre differences

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
"The Mural" uses narrative form to show Dante's specific journey - the laughing council member, the rejections, the volunteers, and finally the dedication ceremony. This makes the theme concrete and relatable because we see exactly how one person's persistence created change. "Dreams" uses compressed imagery and repetition to make the same point more universally - "broken-winged bird" and "barren field frozen with snow" represent what happens when anyone gives up on their dreams. I find the story more effective because seeing Dante face specific obstacles and overcome them is more inspiring than abstract images. However, the poem's brevity makes it memorable and quotable.

Quick Reference: Theme Comparison Key Concepts