Theme and Symbol - Themes in Literature
When
a friend inquires about a movie you saw recently, you might describe it by saying
something like “It’s about a Guatemalan girl who moves to New York and
adjusts to
life in an unfamiliar world.” While it is true you’ve described the topic of
the movie,
you’re not communicating its big idea. If you
continue by saying “It’s really about finding a way to fit in
without losing your uniqueness,” you are talking about theme. A theme is an
underlying message about life that a writer wants to convey. Whether that
message is about fitting in, love, or another timeless topic, it can often
prompt you
to think about human nature in a new way.
Themes in Literature
Despite
the diversity in the world, many themes show up again and again in literature,
no matter what the culture, time period, or country. These universal themes deal
with archetypal experiences—that is, experiences common to all cultures. For
example, the theme “With great power comes great responsibility” has been
explored in stories as varied as ancient epics, myths, and today’s comics.
Theme and Symbol
A
writer has many tools he or she can use to develop a theme. Symbols, for
example, can serve to powerfully reinforce a theme. A symbol is something
concrete—a person, place, object, or activity—that represents an abstract idea.
Among their many functions, symbols can help establish thematically appropriate
moods, provide information about characters, reveal an author’s perspective,
and even show readers something about a work’s historical context. Here are
some examples of symbols and the ideas they might communicate: