Theme

Brief definition of Theme

Theme is the message of the poem, the central idea, the point of a story, essay, poem or narrative the author wishes to make.

Definition of Theme

Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Examples of Theme in Literature

Nature, beauty, love, friendship, satire,    war, revenge etc are frequent themes in Literature

Example of Love Theme

Love is a very common theme in English literature. It generates emotional twists and turns in a narrative, and can lead to a variety of endings: happy, sad, or bittersweet. William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is probably most notable example of love theme. Another example of love theme is “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen.

Example of Revenge Theme

Revenge is another recurrent theme found in many popular literary works. A character comes across certain circumstances that make him aware of his need for revenge. The outcome of his action is often bitter, but sometimes they may end up being satisfied. For examples Shakespeare’s “Hamlet and Macbeth”, Alexander Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo“.

Types of Theme: Major and Minor

Major and minor themes are two types of themes that appear in literary works.

What is Major Theme?

As the term suggests, major theme is the most important idea in a literary work. It is the most significant message by the author that appears almost in entire work.

What is Minor Theme?

A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an idea that appears in a work briefly, giving way to another minor theme. They maybe part of a scene or chapter or less obvious.

Example Major theme minor theme can be found in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. While the narrative revolves around the major theme of matrimony, we discover minor themes like love, friendship, affectation etc.

Function of Theme

Theme is an element of a story that binds together various essential elements of a narrative. It is often a truth that exhibits universality, and stands true for people of all cultures. Theme gives readers better understanding of the main character’s conflicts, experiences, discoveries, and emotions as they are derived from them. Through themes, a writer tries to give his readers an insight into how the world works, or how he or she views human life.

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