Love, good versus evil, loss of innocence — and the list goes on. Or, picking out themes in your own work? Some articles will act as case studies, focusing on a particular theme in classic and contemporary literature. Others will cover techniques to help identify themes in stories. Most importantly, each article will end with something fun and creative for you!
A dictionary can be a good place to start — sometimes. As you can see, the phrasing of Definition 1 makes it dangerously easy to confuse theme with plot. However, to develop a clear understanding of theme from a reading and writing perspective, we should consult — who else? Author and editor C. Lakin has written a plethora of articles on theme at her blog Live Write Thrive.
Vivian, I hope everything stops screaming at you soon! I always wondered how the teacher just knew what the theme was. Of course, now I see that many are quite obvious. Olivia, you definitely have themes to your work. Guess they come very naturally to your writing.
As James said, themes give a story substance. Many of the extras of writing are what give story depth and punch and resonance. Mostly, I just have dead bodies and hot sex not at the same time! So many options…. Hi, Beth! Thank you. Hi, Is this the grade 10 English class? I am supposed to talk about themes right? I dont know too much aabout themmes but Im willing to learn. I like Pat Bertrams response. I was taught that the theme was presented overtly or covertly at the beginning of the story.
This may not be true in plays. However, it would give the audience a scene of the direction of the play. I truly wanted to compose a small message to be able to say thanks to you for the great information you are giving here.
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I will certainly digg it and in my opinion suggest to my friends. We would like to thank you again for the gorgeous ideas you offered Jesse when preparing her own post-graduate research and also, most importantly, pertaining to providing all the ideas in one blog post.
Thanks to you. I relish, lead to I found exactly what I used to be looking for. You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Will Not Be Published Required. This was about as specific as I was able to find: Themes are often a declaration of the human condition.
Or a truth […]. She also has a laundry list of […]. NaNo Support Page. So maybe it's not only about the words. It's about syntax. And plot. And action. It's voice and pacing and dialogue Email Address. The reader will focus on what stands out. Turn the reader's attention where you want it to go. Thank you for reading The Editor's Blog, an Internet resource for fiction writers, freelance editors, and everyone who loves words. Write often. Edit wisely. Affiliate The Editor's Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
More Reference Books. Subscribe to RSS Feed. Dana says:. October 24, at pm. Vivian A says:. Judi Fennell says:. Olivia Cunning says:. James Rafferty says:. Beth says:.
October 25, at am. Kat Sheridan says:. October 25, at pm. But, is revenge worth it? Can revenge beget justice? And how far is too far? Sacrifice is a component of all themes concerning love, though this is especially true for stories about motherly love. The theme of survival applies to stories about being lost in the wilderness, but it also applies to stories about the survival of ideas, groups, and humanity-at-large.
The causes of war, as well as its impacts on society, are topics of frequent musing by writers—especially writers who have been at war themselves.
We analyze the following:. At its simplest, the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory that represents the rise and moral decline of Communism in Russia.
Specifically, the novel uncovers how power corrupts the leaders of populist uprisings, turning philosophical ideals into authoritarian regimes. Most of the characters in Animal Farm represent key figures during and after the Russian Revolution.
Jones Tsar Nicholas II , the livestock are ready to seize control of the land. Jones is chased off the land, which parallels the Russian Revolution in Initially, the Animalist Revolution brings peace and prosperity to the farm.
Every animal is well-fed, learns how to read, and works for the betterment of the community. However, when Snowball starts implementing a plan to build a windmill, Napoleon drives Snowball off of the farm, effectively assuming leadership over the whole farm. In real life, Stalin forced Trotsky into exile, and Trotsky spent the rest of his life critiquing the Stalin regime until he was assassinated in Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat for whenever the farm has a setback, while using Squealer Vyacheslav Molotov as his private informant and public orator.
Eventually, Napoleon changes the tenets of Animalism, starts walking on two legs, and acquires other traits and characteristics of humans. At the end of the novel, and after several more conflicts, purges, and rule changes, the livestock can no longer tell the difference between the pigs and humans. First, the livestock wrest control of the farm from Mr. Jones; then, Napoleon ostracizes Snowball and turns him into a scapegoat. By seizing leadership of the farm for himself, Napoleon grants himself massive power over the land, abusing this power for his own benefit.
His leadership brings about purges, rule changes, and the return of inequality among the livestock, while Napoleon himself starts to look more and more like a human—in other words, he resembles the demagoguery of Mr.
Jones and the abuse that preceded the Animalist revolution. Thus, each plot point revolves around power and how power is wielded by corrupt leadership. At its center, the novel warns the reader of unchecked power, and how corrupt leaders will create echo chambers and private militaries in order to preserve that power.
Most of these characters represent real life figures from the Russian Revolution, including the ideologies behind that revolution. Literary Devices: There are a few key literary devices that support the theme of Power and Corruption. While Lenin and Trotsky had admirable goals for the Russian nation, Stalin is, quite literally, a pig.
The characters and events in this story resemble the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, with the purpose of warning the reader about unchecked power. Finally, an important literary device in Animal Farm is symbolism. When Napoleon Stalin begins to resemble a human, the novel suggests that he has become as evil and negligent as Mr.
Jones Tsar Nicholas II. Since the Russian Revolution was a rejection of the Russian monarchy, equating Stalin to the monarchy reinforces the corrupting influence of power, and the need to elect moral individuals to posts of national leadership. You can read this short story here. Content warning for mentions of suicide. In the story, an old man stays up late drinking at a cafe.
The old man has no wife—only a niece that stays with him—and he attempted suicide the previous week. Two waiters observe him: a younger waiter wants the old man to leave so they can close the cafe, while an older waiter sympathizes with the old man.
None of these characters have names. The younger waiter kicks out the old man and closes the cafe. The younger waiter has the hallmarks of a happy life: youth, confidence, and a wife to come home to. The older waiter, like Hemingway, empathizes with the plight of the old man. What kind of a place is that?
Additionally, the place should not have music or be a bar: it must let you preserve the quiet dignity of yourself. This belies the irony of loneliness: only the lonely recognize it. The older waiter lacks confidence, youth, and belief in a greater good. He recognizes these traits in the old man, as they both share a need for a clean, well-lighted place long after most people fall asleep.
Does loneliness beget craziness?
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