What are common themes? A theme in writing is an important idea.
- Man Struggles Against Nature
- Man Struggles Against Societal Pressure
- Man Struggles to Understand Divinity
- Crime Does Not Pay
- Overcoming Adversity
- Friendship is Dependent on Sacrifice
- Love is Worthiest of All Pursuits
- Power Makes People Do Things
- Accept Hard Situations and Turn to Triumph
- Be a Friend to Have Friends
- Death is Part of Life
Themes help readers understand deeper meanings of stories and life lessons. For example, J.K. Rowling explores good versus evil in Harry Potter through Harry and Voldemort’s battle. Leo Tolstoy’s "War and Peace" shows war’s effects on soldiers, families, and politicians. Kate Chopin’s "Regret" explores the theme of regret through a woman who first doesn’t regret not marrying yet later feels alone. The Great Gatsby reveals physical wealth doesn’t guarantee emotional fulfillment. Frankenstein warns that thinking oneself blameless and worthy of admiration, despite mistakes, leads to downfall.
Some common themes in literature are:
- love
- war
- revenge
- betrayal
- grace
- isolation
- forgiveness
- wartime loss
- rich versus poor
- help from other-worldly powers
Your story’s central idea is what makes your work matter to your readers. “Universal themes” refer to common themes in literature that most people can relate to. Literary theme creates a personal connection with the reader.
Beyond overarching major themes, a work may additionally contain smaller, different themes that apply only to certain relationships or scenes.
What is the theme in a story? Theme is the central idea or insight revealed through a story. Your message is your story’s theme in action.
Major themes are the most significant themes of the story, and often they are a part of the entire story. For instance, a book on war would have the major theme of war’s effect on humanity.