Theme: Writing and Critiquing

Introduction to Theme

Theme in literature functions as the underlying message or central idea that conveys a broader meaning or insight about the human experience. This literary device provides cohesion to the narrative by connecting various elements and events, ultimately contributing to the reader’s deeper understanding of the text’s purpose and significance. Through the exploration and development of themes, authors can explore complex concepts and engage readers in thoughtful contemplation of societal, moral, and emotional dimensions.

How to Create a Theme in a Fictional Work

Creating a theme in a fictional work is a complex and challenging process, but there are several steps that you can take to develop a strong and meaningful theme:

Step	Explanation	Practical Example
1. Identify the Underlying Message:	Ask Key Questions: Consider the ideas and issues you want to explore and what you want readers to take away.	When writing a story about resilience, ask, “What does true resilience mean, and what can readers learn from it?”
2. Develop Consistent Characters:	Align with Theme: Ensure your characters share the motivations and beliefs central to your theme.	In a story about environmental conservation, characters should exhibit eco-friendly values and actions.
3. Employ Symbolism and Imagery:	Deepen Meaning: Use symbols and vivid imagery to reinforce and amplify the theme.	In a poem about hope, a sunrise can symbolize new beginnings and optimism, enhancing the theme.
4. Generate Conflict and Tension:	Theme-Driven Conflict: Create conflicts that relate to the theme, enhancing its exploration.	In a story about forgiveness, a character’s struggle to forgive a betrayal adds depth to the theme.
5. Show, Don’t Tell:	Subtle Presentation: Instead of outright stating the theme, depict it through character actions and dialogue.	Rather than saying, “She was resilient,” show the character persevering through adversity.
6. Revise and Refine:	Polish and Clarify: Continually refine your writing to convey the theme effectively and cohesively.	Edit to ensure that every element of the story contributes to the central theme without distractions.

Benefits of Theme

1. Clarity and Focus: Themes provide a clear and focused framework for a literary work, guiding both the author and the reader in understanding the central message or purpose of the text.
2. Unity and Coherence: Themes help unify diverse elements within a narrative, fostering coherence by tying together characters, plot developments, and symbols to reinforce the central idea.
3. Deeper Exploration: Themes enable authors to delve into complex topics, emotions, and human experiences, allowing for a more profound exploration of the subject matter.
4. Reader Engagement: Themes engage readers on a deeper intellectual and emotional level, encouraging them to contemplate and discuss the broader meanings and implications of the story.
5. Enhanced Critical Analysis: Themes provide a basis for critical analysis and interpretation, facilitating discussions on symbolism, character development, and societal relevance.
6. Universal Relevance: Themes often touch on universal human experiences, making literature relatable and allowing readers to draw connections to their own lives and societies.
7. Artistic Expression: Themes provide authors with a means of artistic expression, allowing them to convey complex ideas and emotions through the narrative structure.
8. Resonance and Memorability: Well-developed themes make literature more memorable and resonate with readers long after they have finished the text.
9. Social Commentary: Themes can serve as a vehicle for social commentary, enabling authors to address societal issues, values, and beliefs within the context of their narratives.
10. Educational Value: Themes in literature offer educational opportunities by encouraging critical thinking, analysis, and discussions in academic settings.

Theme and Literary Theory

The theme is an essential component of literary analysis, and different literary theories can offer different approaches to understanding and interpreting themes in literature. Here are a few examples:

Literary Theory	Critique/Relevance of Theme to Literary Theory	Application of Theory to Work
Formalism Literary Theory	Formalism focuses on the intrinsic elements of a literary work, such as form, structure, and language. Themes may be considered secondary.	In “The Waste Land,” Formalism would analyze the fragmented structure, intertextuality, and the use of multiple voices. It would also focus on its language, symbolism, and allusions, considering how these formal elements contribute to the meaning and impact of the poem. The theme of disillusionment and societal decay would be examined, too, in light of its expression through the innovative form and linguistic techniques.
Reader-Response Theory	Reader-Response Theory emphasizes the role of the reader’s interpretation and response in shaping the meaning of a literary work.	Reader-Response literary theory would explore the different interpretations and emotional responses that readers have to Beloved. It would analyze how readers’ experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds influence their understanding and engagement with the novel’s themes of slavery, memory, and trauma. The theory would highlight the significance of individual reader experiences and the dialogues created between the text and readers, emphasizing that meaning is not solely determined by the author but also constructed in the act of reading.
Feminist Literary Theory	Feminist literary theory examines how gender influences the creation and interpretation of literature, highlighting gender inequalities and power dynamics.	Feminist literary theory would analyze “The Yellow Wallpaper” in terms of its portrayal of female oppression and the constraints imposed on women in the late 19th century. It would explore the theme of patriarchal control over women’s bodies and minds, examining how the protagonist’s descent into madness is connected to her restricted role as a wife and mother. The theory would also investigate the subversion of gender norms and how the story challenges the dominant power structures that restrict women’s agency and autonomy.
Postcolonial literary Theory	Postcolonial literary theory explores the cultural, social, and political implications of colonialism and its aftermath in literature.	Postcolonial literary theory would analyze “Things Fall Apart” by examining the effects of colonialism on African societies and the clash between indigenous cultures and colonial forces. It would explore the themes of cultural identity, power, and resistance in the novel, highlighting how Chinua Achebe challenges Eurocentric narratives and reclaims the African perspective. The theory would analyze the portrayal of characters, language use, and narrative strategies to reveal the complex dynamics of colonization and its impact on both individuals and communities.
Marxist literary theory	Marxist literary theory analyzes literature through the lens of class struggle, economic inequality, and social structures.	Marxist literary theory would examine The Great Gatsby in terms of its critique of the American Dream and the social class divisions of the Jazz Age. It would focus on the themes of wealth, materialism, and social mobility, analyzing how the characters’ relationships and actions reflect the economic disparities and power dynamics of the time. The theory would explore the novel’s portrayal of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, examining how Fitzgerald exposes the corrupting influence of capitalism and the illusions of upward social mobility in the pursuit of the American Dream.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M.H. “How to do Things with Texts: A Guide to Critical Reading.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, 9th ed., vol. A, W.W. Norton, 2012, pp. 168-178.
2. Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester UP, 2009.
3. Brooks, Cleanth. The Well Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry. Harcourt, 1947.
4. Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell, 1983.
5. Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton UP, 1957.
6. Leitch, Vincent B., et al. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. W.W. Norton, 2010.