To really understand a book, one should be able to understand the writer’s intent, theme, and idea. The best way to do this is to find the main concept of the story. The main idea is what the story is really about, and it can be found by looking at the characters, setting, and plot.
The students must understand the idea of the novel or any other written work to really grasp the book. It might be necessary to analyze it thoroughly and find out several additional issues about it. For example, with the help of StoryboardThat – External & Internal Conflict will be not so difficult to comprehend, and the visuals will help to make it completely clear.
What is the Main Idea in a Story?
The main idea of a story is its central point or theme. It is what the story is about, and it is sometimes difficult to understand even by reading the whole story. The main idea should not be confused with the moral of the story, which is a lesson that the writer wants the reader to learn from the story.
The main idea appears differently in stories than it does in essays, factually written text, and other types of writing intended to inform the reader only. In stories, the main idea is often harder to identify because it may not be explicitly stated. It must be inferred from what happens in the story. In essays, it is usually stated in the first sentence or the first paragraph to inform the reader right away about what is going to happen in the text.
How to Find the Main Idea of a Story?
Finding the main idea of a story can be difficult, especially if it is not explicitly stated. However, there are some ways to find it.
One way to find the main idea of a story is to look at the characters. The main character is often the one who changes the most during the story, so looking at how the character changes can give clues about what the main idea might be.
It might also be reasonable to analyze what the characters are saying or what their thoughts are. Why are they saying these things? What do their words reveal about the overall theme of the story? The answers to these questions will help better understand what the story is actually about.
Another way to find the main idea of a story is to look at the setting. The time and place where the story takes place can give clues about what the story is about. Perhaps, the author has chosen a certain time frame to deliver the main idea better, so make sure you consider this.
Looking at the plot of the story can also give clues about what the main idea might be. This is the best way to find the main idea. However, it doesn’t mean that it is simple. Even by reading the whole book, you might still not understand the concept. Everything depends on the book and your reader’s experience. When it comes to students, everything might be even more complicated as they are still learning. That way, it might be efficient to re-read the story if it’s not big or to remember and analyze some of its passages.
Finally, you should also look for patterns in the plot. Perhaps, certain events keep happening that help to reveal the main idea. Alternatively, maybe the characters are always talking about the same thing or thinking about the same thing. These patterns can give clues about what the story is really about.
In Conclusion
Once you have looked at the characters, setting, and plot of the story, try to identify what the story is really about. This is the main idea of the story. It should be a simple, one-sentence statement that sums up the overall theme of the story. If it is more than one sentence, it is probably not the main idea.