Every story, song, poem, play, movie, or speech has a theme. It is the subject that stays dominant and is the core idea. This literary piece explores the meaning and definition of themes, the types of themes and how themes are essential. Furthermore, there are examples from literature, movies, TV shows, songs and speeches you can refer to understand better.
Table of Contents
- What Is Theme? – Meaning and Definition
- What Is the Importance of Theme in a Fiction or Nonfiction?
- Types of Themes
- Examples of Themes
- Frequently Asked Questions on Theme in Writing
What Is Theme? – Meaning and Definition
‘Theme’ is the main idea around which a particular piece of writing or speech revolves. It is the central idea which is reiterated through the various characters and events in the text. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines the term ‘theme’ as “the subject or main idea in a talk, piece of writing or work of art”. The Oxford Dictionary of Media and Communication defines theme as “the central, dominant, or unifying idea in a text (or several texts), or a standpoint on the subject, implicit or explicit, which is reflected in recurrent motifs, imagery, and/or symbols”.
What Is the Importance of Theme in a Fiction or Nonfiction?
I went out for dinner. Yesterday was a Saturday. There are two horses in our front yard. Florence wore a blue cocktail dress. It is raining.
Are you able to make sense of anything from the set of sentences given above? No, right? They are not connected in any way and are just random pieces of information which do not really convey anything at all. This is how absurd a text would be if there were no theme binding the whole thing together. Unless the text or speech is making a point, why would someone want to listen to or read them in the first place? So, be it fiction or nonfiction, see to it that you always have a theme and coherence between sentences and paragraphs. Also, remember that there can be multiple themes – a main theme and a number of sub-themes.
Types of Themes
Just like there are different genres, there is a wide range of themes that are used in works of art and literature. If you are a person who loves reading, listening to songs or watching movies and TV shows, you would definitely be able to make sense of what the different themes are. You would have come across a number of them.
The following section has a list of some common themes. As you go through them, try to analyse if you have seen any of them in the books you have read or the movies/TV shows you have watched.
The common themes found in art and literature are as follows.
- Good and evil
- Love
- Life and death
- Loyalty
- Friendship
- Betrayal
- Coming-of-age
- Power
- Truth
- War
- Justice
- Hope
- Family
- Relationships
- Success and failure
- Perseverance
- Nature/environment
Examples of Themes
Take a look at the following examples to learn how exactly theme works.
Themes in Short Stories
Example 1
In the short story, ‘The Last Leaf’, O. Henry uses hope as the dominant theme. You can see that Johnsy falls terribly ill and loses hope and the will to live despite Sue’s constant efforts to keep her healthy and alive. It is the last leaf that Behrman, the old artist, painted on the wall outside her window that gives her hope and brings her back to being healthy. This selfless action is what kills Behrman in the end. Though hope is the main theme in the story, selflessness, love, and affection also exist as sub-themes that make the story all the more beautiful and memorable.
Example 2
Guy de Maupassant explores the consequences of greed and vanity in his short story, ‘The Necklace’. You are introduced to Monsieur Loisel and Mathilde Loisel (husband and wife), who are not very rich but live a decent life. However, Mathilde does not seem to be very happy about their domestic, economic and social situation. When they get ready to go to a party, Mathilde borrows a diamond necklace from Madame Forestier. She is overwhelmed by the attention she gets at the party but loses the necklace. They end up working even harder to replace the necklace, replace it somehow and live a poorer life – only to find out later that the necklace was worth nothing and that they had replaced it with an original diamond necklace.
Themes in Poetries
Example 1
Percy Bysshe Shelley employs themes such as the transient nature of power and everything one owns in this world in his poem, ‘Ozymandias’. He captures the whole idea through these last lines.
“Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Example 2
In the poem, ‘Mending Wall’, Robert Frost touches upon the complex nature of human relationships and the inevitable nature of societal change. He uses two neighbours and a wall they mend every year to show that not all social norms are acceptable or make sense to all. Most of it is often imposed without any logical explanation.
Themes in Novels
Example 1
In the novel, ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ by John Green, the primary themes are love and friendship. You will see how these themes come alive from the point Hazel and Augustus, the main characters of the novel, meet. It shows how their friendship develops into endless love.
Example 2
Louisa May Alcott focuses on the events in the lives of the four women characters – Meg March, Josephine March, Beth March and Amy March. Though it is a coming-of-age novel, it also focuses on various themes, such as the conflict between familial responsibilities and yearning for personal growth, poverty, independence, family, marriage, society, etc.
Themes in Speeches
Example 1
In September 2009, Barack Obama addressed the students of America, and the main idea behind his speech was to motivate the students about the importance of completing school education. He encouraged them to work harder and be perseverant.
Example 2
Muniba Mazari (National Ambassador for UN Women, Pakistan and motivational speaker), when speaking on the topic, ‘We are all perfectly imperfect’, has emphasised on the idea that it is okay not to be okay, and progress starts the moment you begin accepting your broken, perfectly imperfect self. She uses personal anecdotes to remind people to be thankful for what they have and also for what they have lost, for that is what has made them what they are today.
Themes in Movies
Example 1
In the movie, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, themes such as grit, determination, education, family and poverty are explored. It teaches you to never give up on your dreams.
Example 2
The film ‘Pete’s Dragon’ takes you through the lives of Pete and Elliot, the dragon. It emphasises a wide range of themes such as empathy, courage, appreciation of nature, belief in magic, and how one can find and make a family in the most unexpected of places.
Themes in TV Shows
Example 1
The TV Show ‘Young Sheldon’ is a coming-of-age story of young Sheldon narrated by adult Sheldon. It is a portrayal of the people and events in his life.
Example 2
In ‘Manifest’, themes of time travel, the grief of lost time, the importance of family, friendship, love and relationships and the consequences of using your powers for your own glory are portrayed.
Themes in Songs
Example 1
The song ‘Roar’ by Katy Perry is about the need to overcome the challenges that come your way and to stand stronger than ever every time something or someone weighs you down.
Example 2
Rihanna’s ‘Life Me Up’ is a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, the beloved actor. It touches upon the need for love and support during times of grief. It also addresses the concept of reconnecting with the loved ones you lost.
Themes in Plays
Example 1
The themes in the play ‘Doctor Faustus’ include temptation, sin, redemption, free will and fate. You see how the life of Doctor Faustus changes when he sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for worldly knowledge and pleasure.
Example 2
In Shakespeare’s famous play, ‘Macbeth’, the consequences of being excessively ambitious and power-hungry at the cost of even taking others’ lives are focused upon.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Importance of Theme in Writing
What is the meaning of ‘theme’?
‘Theme’ is the main idea around which a particular piece of writing or speech revolves. It is the central idea which is reiterated through the various characters and events in the text.
What is the definition of theme?
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines the term ‘theme’ as “the subject or main idea in a talk, piece of writing or work of art”. The Oxford Dictionary of Media and Communication defines theme as “the central, dominant, or unifying idea in a text (or several texts), or a standpoint on the subject, implicit or explicit, which is reflected in recurrent motifs, imagery, and/or symbols”.
What are the most common themes found in literature and movies?
- Good and evil
- Love
- Life and death
- Loyalty
- Betrayal
- Coming-of-age
- Truth
- Justice
- Family
- Relationships
- Success and failure
