Literary Element Grab Bag: Theme
Theme is the reason the author writes; it is the point to reading. Certainly taking the journey can have rewards, but if you do not get the point, you have not reached the intended destination. Sometimes themes are stated, but more often they are implied.
Authors express theme in 2 ways:
- Observational – An observational theme is a message about how the author sees some aspect of existence. In this case the author is not advocating any particular lesson or moral, he/she is just observing the way the universe works. One example of an observational theme is in “Story of an Hour.” Kate Chopin observes in this story the heavy weight that marriage bears on a woman’s heart. She is not saying women should not marry. Observational themes are often implied rather than stated.
- Didactic – The second type of theme is a lesson or moral. The author intends for the audience to leave the story having learned something that they might apply to their lives. O’Henry’s story “The Gift of the Magi” is didactic. Through the actions of the characters O’Henry is demonstrating the wisdom of self-sacrificing love. Didactic themes are usually stated. O’Henry’s theme is stated in the last lines, “But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
To discover the theme you must examine 3 key elements of the story:
- The title – The title is always significant; it will give you a clue about what was important to the writer, what he/she wants you to focus on.
- The conflict – If the conflict is about the constraints of poverty versus the generosity of love, then you know the theme is related. Theme and conflict are connected either concretely or symbolically.
- The ending – The end of the story will either identify or give you clues to the theme. If a character struggles with a decision in a story and in the end the decision the character makes causes pain, heartache, or loss, then you can be pretty sure the theme is not going to be about making good decisions.
When you analyze and write about theme, you must state the theme in a complete sentence. For example you could not say: The theme of Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” is equality. Equality is the subject of the story, not the theme. To state the theme you must ask: What is the author saying about the subject? So what is Vonnegut saying about equality in “Harrison Bergeron?” You could state the theme this way. The theme of Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” is that any ideological attempt to create a system of total equality is sure to quell individuality and excellence. Practice stating the themes of movies, television shows, stories, songs, and poems you see, read, and hear. You will feel enlightened and elevated as your understanding and analysis skills grow stronger.