Theme

Common Themes media type="youtube" key="p4qME64SkxM" height="179" width="319" Themes, Themes, Themes

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the meaning of the story the central or dominating idea Finding Theme

** THEME ** in a piece of fiction is its controlling idea or its central insight. It is the author's underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey. The theme may be the author's thoughts about a topic or view of human nature. The title of the short story usually points to what the writer is saying and he may use various figures of speech to emphasize his theme, such as: symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony.

Some simple examples of common themes from literature, TV, and film are: - things are not always as they appear to be - Love is blind - Believe in yourself - People are afraid of change **What theme is NOT: ** It is NOT the **"moral"** of the story.

A moral is a piece of practical advice that can be gained from the story to apply to our own lives.

A theme is more complex than a moral and may have no direct advice or philosophical value that the reader can apply

It is NOT the **subject** of the story.

**What theme is: **
 * Theme is the **meaning** of the work when we take all aspects of the work in its entirety into account.
 * It is an **aspect of human experience** that the author wishes to express.

The importance of theme in literature can be overestimated; the work of fiction is more than just the theme. However, the theme allows the author to control or give order to his perceptions about life.

Remember that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helping to inform and reflect back on each other. Also, be aware that a theme we determine from a story never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole.”

adapted from http://www.ci.maryville.tn.us/mhs/studyskills/compguide/LitAnaTheme.htm and (“Analyzing Theme.” Literature. What Makes a Story Good. Accessed 23 Oct. 2006. <http://www.learner.org/exhibits/literature/read/theme2.html>)