Full Answer
What is the theme of a story?
In literature, the theme of a story is, broadly speaking, what a book is about. They are concepts that pervade and recur throughout a piece of writing and are often reinforced by motifs.
Why are themes important in literature?
Themes are generally meaningful to certain groups of people in a certain time, cross boundaries, and can be understood universally. Major themes are the ideas in works of literature that carry the most significance. They are repeated throughout the text and are important to various character interactions and plot developments.
How do writers present a literary theme in a story?
Writers can present a literary theme in many ways. The thoughts and actions of different characters may serve to express the theme, whether explicitly or subtly. The theme might also be expressed through conversations and dialogue between characters. Different characters can often represent different aspects of a theme.
How does an author treat a theme?
Themes are expressed and emphasized by the way the author makes us feel. By sharing feelings of the main character you also share the ideas that go through his mind.
How would you define the theme of a story?
A literary theme is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work. The theme of a story can be conveyed using characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination of all of these elements.
What is a theme of a story example?
Typical examples of themes of this type are conflict between the individual and society; coming of age; humans in conflict with technology; nostalgia; and the dangers of unchecked ambition. A theme may be exemplified by the actions, utterances, or thoughts of a character in a novel.
How do you express a theme in a story?
There are four main ways to express a theme in a story:Thoughts and conversations of characters.The feelings of characters in the story.The lesson the character(s) learn at the end of the story.The actions going on in the story.
How do you determine the theme?
the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject—the writer's view of the world or a revelation about human nature. To identify the theme, be sure that you've first identified the story's plot, the way the story uses characterization, and the primary conflict in the story.
What does a theme contain?
A theme is a set of colors, fonts, effects, and more that can be applied to your entire presentation to give it a consistent, professional look.
What are the 5 themes of a story?
A book's central theme can be anything the author chooses to focus on. Certainly, courage, death, friendship, revenge, and love are five themes that abound. Let's take a closer look at these common themes, as well as some interesting examples from popular works of fiction.
What are different types of themes?
Themes are equally numerous. The more common types of themes include:Redemption.Resurrection.Prodigal Son.Transformation.Vengeance.Innocence.Justice.Sacrifice.More items...•
How many themes can a story have?
A story can have as many themes as the reader can identify based on recurring patterns and parallels within the story itself. In looking at ways to separate themes into a hierarchy, we might find it useful to follow the example of a single book.
Is theme an opinion?
Unlike a story's subject, which is simply the foundational topic, a theme contains an opinion about a larger idea and can be applied universally (not just to that specific story). For example, a novel's subject might be war, but its theme could be the author's opinion that war is destructive and foolish.
What are three ways authors often reveal the theme?
Themes are developed by authors through the following ways:What happens - key events.Characters - character qualities, character actions and how characters respond to situations may all relate to theme.Character development - the ways characters change, and the lessons they learn indicate themes for the reader.More items...•
What is the definition of story theme?
The story theme is the central idea of a story, novel, or movie. It is the moral or message that the writer wants to send to the audience.
What does theme mean in relation to stories?
A story’s theme is the main idea or the message that a writer wants to send to an audience. It is not the plot or setting, but it interacts with them to get the message across.
Why Does Theme Matter in a Story?
Theme matters because it underpins everything in a story. When you read a book, or watch a movie, it is not only the events that happen in it that matter but the message that the writer wants to give you.
What are common story themes?
The most common story themes include: a search for meaning, redemption, self-discovery, and darkness.
Can a story theme change?
Yes, a story theme can change. Often times, stories will start out with one theme, then progress into a different one. Some stories can even change their entire narrative structure after a certain point in the story, and they continue to evolve into a completely different type of story.
Can a story be without a theme?
Even if an author doesn’t intend to write a theme it is surely going to have a theme. Even if the author is not aware of it the story will contain an inner message that influences the structure, plot, and characters.
Can a story have more than one theme?
Yes, it can have more than one theme, depending on what is going on in the story. If a story is about a search for love, it may also be about hatred.
What is a theme in a story?
Often confused with plot, theme is actually a worldview, philosophy, message, moral, ethical question, or lesson. However, these labels, taken alone or together, don’t quite explain theme in fiction. We can think of a theme as an underlying principle or concept, the topic at the center of the story. Themes are often universal in nature.
What are universal themes?
Some common universal themes are based on motifs of redemption, freedom, equality, sacrifice, betrayal, loyalty, greed, justice, oppression, revenge, and love. Themes can also be personal and part of the human condition. Such themes could explore issues surrounding loneliness, trust, commitment, or family.
What are the themes of the Hunger Games?
Most stories contain multiple themes and motifs; The Hunger Games trilogy explores motifs of power, class, sacrifice, and honor, to name a few. In the Harry Potter books, the most significant themes are good versus evil and the power of love. However, there are also motifs of friendship and loyalty.
How to get better at identifying themes?
When you become proficient at identifying themes in other works, you’ll get better at bringing themes into your own work. Don’t stress yet. If you’re not sure what your story’s theme is, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. A theme will usually emerge as you work through your first draft. Theme development.
How to strengthen a theme in a draft?
Take some time to think about how you can strengthen the theme in future drafts. Multiple themes. Once you identify your theme, make a list of related themes that you could thread into subplots. For example, if your theme is related to redemption, then forgiveness could be a secondary theme. Theme and motif.
Can a story be told without a theme?
Themes are so closely tied to human nature that it’s almost impossible to tell a story without a theme of some kind. Themes will almost always manifest, even if an author doesn’t put any special effort into theme development.
Should authors think about theme?
Some experts have suggested that authors shouldn’t think too much about theme until they’ve produced a draft, while others believe that theme is so integral that it should be present throughout story development . The approach you choose will depend on your writing process, storytelling style, and personal preference.
What is the theme of a story?
The theme is what will help keep you as the writer on point when you are writing your story. By having a central theme to your work, you will have a guiding light that connects all the elements in your fiction. The theme is what will help you make good decisions when it comes to characters, plot, and setting.
How does theme relate to other elements of fiction?
How theme relates to other elements of fiction like plot, character, and setting. Many authors are hesitant to actively develop a theme ahead of writing their story for the fear that they will write a heavy-handed text didactic text for the reader. But the reality is you can craft a well thought out theme, and implement it in such a way ...
How do characters react to situations in a story?
How your characters react to situations in your plot should directly represent the themes in your story. There are countless ways a character can react to the same situation. Based on the thematic statement you are trying to make your characters should react in a way that is congruent to that message.
Why is it easier to discuss a plot or a theme?
A plot is usually much easier to discuss and point out because it is explicitly laid out in the events fo the text. The challenge with a theme is that the theme is usually never specifically called out by the author. In fact, themes should be left up to the reader for interpretation.
How do authors use the remaining elements of fiction to tell their story?
Once an author knows their theme, then they can use the remaining elements of fiction to tell their story using each of them as stewards of the theme itself. An author’s decisions in terms of plot, character, and setting all help to drive home the commentary or message they are trying to make on a topic.
What are the three literary devices that authors often use to emphasize themes?
There are few literary devices that authors often use to express or hint at a theme. The three devices that authors often use to emphasize theme are Motif, Symbol, and Leitwortstil. Motif: is an element or idea that is used throughout the story.
Why is it important to have a theme?
Having a theme is very important as an author because it helps provide the ultimate measuring stick for all parts of your writing. If you stay true to the message your theme is trying to deliver then the rest of the story elements should stay true to delivering an impactful story.
What is a theme in a story?
Theme is a meaningful main idea that is central to a story. Themes are important expressions of an author’s viewpoint and are portrayed through characters and other key literary devices.
What is the theme of The Great Gatsby?
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald deals with a subject of upper-class life in the 1920s. The major theme of the book involves the decline of the American Dream.
Theme Definition
Theme describes the central idea (s) that a piece of writing explores. Rather than stating this theme directly, the author will look at theme using the set of literary tools at their disposal. The theme of a story or poem will be explored through elements like characters, plot, settings, conflict, and even word choice and literary devices.
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20 Common Themes in Literature
Let’s look at some common themes in literature. The ideas presented within this list of themes in literature show up in novels, memoirs, poems, and stories throughout history.
Theme Examples
Let’s take a closer look at how writers approach and execute theme. Themes in literature are conveyed throughout the work, so while you might not have read the books in the following theme examples, we’ve provided plot synopses and other relevant details where necessary. We analyze the following:
Why Themes in Literature Matter
The theme of a story affects everything else: the decisions that characters make, the mood that words and images build, the moral that readers interpret, etc. Recognizing how writers utilize various themes in literature will help you craft stronger, more nuanced works of prose and poetry.
Should I Decide the Theme of a Story in Advance?
You can, though of course it depends on the actual story you want to tell. Some writers certainly start with a theme. You might decide you want to write a story about themes like love, family, justice, gender roles, the environment, or the pursuit of revenge.
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What is a theme in a story?
Unlike a story’s subject, which is simply the foundational topic, a theme contains an opinion about a larger idea and can be applied universally (not just to that specific story). For example, a novel’s subject might be war, but its theme could be the author’s opinion that war is destructive and foolish.
What is the theme of a literary work?
The theme of a literary work is its central message or idea, usually expressed indirectly through its characters, plot, and symbolism. In fact, a large part of what makes reading pleasurable is uncovering this central message. Unlike a story’s subject, which is simply the foundational topic, a theme contains an opinion about a larger idea ...
What is thematic statement?
In this case, a thematic statement might serve as the thesis of your paper. A thematic statement expresses the story’s universal theme in a complete sentence. It takes the simple keywords or phrases, such as “war and destruction” or “the elusive nature of the American Dream,” and expands them, while still remaining universal.
What is the theme of the Scarlet Letter?
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Sin and guilt are two of the major topics explored in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Much like Adam and Eve’s story in the Bible, Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin (their affair) leads to exile and suffering, although it is Hester who receives almost all of the public’s backlash.
What is a motif in literature?
A motif is a recurring idea, object, or image in a literary work. Motifs carry symbolic significance and contribute to the overall theme of the work. They are often conveyed through repeated imagery or language. Once you can identify motifs in a work of literature, you’re one step closer to understanding its theme.
What is the theme of Lord of the Flies?
More than just a story of boys stranded on an island, Lord of the Flies carries a deeper message through its theme, one that expresses the author’s views on human nature as being inherently bad.
What does William Golding show us about the island?
In Lord of the Flies, William Golding shows us that when left alone to fight for survival, brutal human instincts will kick in, even in children. Jack, for example, quickly becomes obsessed with power and declares himself the island’s totalitarian leader.
What does the theme mean in literature?
What Does Theme Mean in Literature? In literature, a theme is a common thread or main idea that is repeated throughout a literary work. The theme of a novel or story is the major message that organizes the entire work.
What is the theme of a novel?
The theme of a novel or story is the major message that organizes the entire work. The theme may be expressed overtly, but more often it must be uncovered by reading deeply through the work and analyzing the story's plot, characters and use of literary devices. The theme of a work is distinct from its subject, which is what ...
How do writers express themes?
Writers can present a literary theme in many ways. The thoughts and actions of different characters may serve to express the theme, whether explicitly or subtly. The theme might also be expressed through conversations and dialogue between characters . Different characters can often represent different aspects of a theme.
What do different characters represent in a theme?
Different characters can often represent different aspects of a theme. In Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov," for example, brothers Ivan and Alyosha represent the positions of skepticism and religious faith, respectively, and together represent the novel's theme of the conflict between the two. In the greatest works of literature, themes are ...
What Is The Theme of A Story?
Themes in Storytelling
- Most stories contain multiple themes and motifs; The Hunger Games trilogy explores motifs of power, class, sacrifice, and honor, to name a few. In the Harry Potter books, the most significant themes are good versus evil and the power of love. However, there are also motifs of friendship and loyalty. One theme might stretch across an entire series, while other themes appear at the n…
Choosing The Theme of A Story
- Themes are so closely tied to human nature that it’s almost impossible to tell a story without a theme of some kind. Themes will almost always manifest, even if an author doesn’t put any special effort into theme development. Some experts have suggested that authors shouldn’t think too much about theme until they’ve produced a draft, while others believe that theme is so integr…
Tips For Developing Theme
- Learn to identify themes. When watching movies and reading novels, identify the themes. When you become proficient at identifying themes in other works, you’ll get better at bringing themes into yo...
- Don’t stress yet. If you’re not sure what your story’s theme is, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. A theme will usually emerge as you work through your first draft.
- Learn to identify themes. When watching movies and reading novels, identify the themes. When you become proficient at identifying themes in other works, you’ll get better at bringing themes into yo...
- Don’t stress yet. If you’re not sure what your story’s theme is, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. A theme will usually emerge as you work through your first draft.
- Theme development. Once you’ve completed a draft, the theme should be apparent. Take some time to think about how you can strengthen the theme in future drafts.
- Multiple themes. Once you identify your theme, make a list of related themes that you could thread into subplots. For example, if your theme is related to redemption, then forgiveness could be a se...
