- A theme is the primary idea or underlying message in literature, writing, and other creative works.
- Literary themes are narratives’ central, unifying elements that communicate messages about life, society, humanity, the world, etc.
- Examples of themes in writing include good versus evil, coming of age, loyalty, betrayal, justice, and power.
- A theme can make a work of writing resonate more deeply, beyond just the surface story.
- Characters’ actions, reactions, and roles in their settings often communicate a creative work’s themes.
Think about your favorite book. What’s it about? On the surface, maybe it’s about a young woman’s entry into the workforce or a family’s experience migrating to a new country. But underneath, it’s about more than that. How does entering the workforce change the young woman, and how does the family cope with moving to a new place?
The answers to these questions are the book’s themes. A story’s theme isn’t the same as its plot. It’s bigger than that. Think of a story’s plot as its body and its theme as its soul.
Here, we’ll define themes and their purpose and share some common themes and examples. We’ll also explore how to identify and use themes in your writing.
Table of contents
What is the purpose of themes in writing?
How to identify themes in writing and literature
3 steps for using themes in writing
What is a theme?
A theme is a creative work’s main idea or underlying meaning. It’s the central, unifying element of the narrative that communicates statements about life, society, humanity, and the world.
A story’s theme is what the story is about—but not in the way you might initially think. A theme isn’t the work’s literal details like its character or setting. It’s the universal message the story conveys.
Can a story have multiple themes?
A work of literature can have multiple themes simultaneously, allowing it to explore various aspects of the human experience and offer a richer, more complex view of its subjects and characters. This layering of themes adds depth and nuance, making the narrative more engaging and reflective of real life’s multifaceted nature.
Here’s an example: Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner is about a young man’s childhood in Afghanistan as the Taliban takes over and his subsequent emigration to the United States with his father. If you read a synopsis of the novel’s plot, you will find something similar to this description. The book’s themes, however, are the bigger-picture statements Hosseini communicates about redemption, betrayal, and the complex relationship between fathers and sons.
Themes in other media
Themes aren’t limited to stories. Every kind of creative writing deals with themes: poems, plays, movies and television, and creative nonfiction. Any creative work has a theme, even when that theme is “no apparent theme.” Remember that even when an author doesn’t consciously write about a theme, their work still communicates some underlying message—even if that message is mundane.
In contrast, business and academic writing don’t typically have themes but may discuss themes. Writing in these contexts exists to explain, argue, persuade, inform, or generate business, not to make a statement about people or the world they inhabit. Literature is art, and academic writing about literature is the interpretation of art.
What is the purpose of themes in writing?
Themes play a pivotal role in writing. They serve as the underlying messages or central ideas that give depth and cohesion to a story. Consider the theme the backbone of a narrative, guiding the plot, the character development, and the reader’s emotional journey.
By unifying various narrative elements, themes help to ensure that character arcs, plot points, and dialogue contribute to the overarching message. This cohesiveness can make the story more impactful and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
A theme can make a creative work resonate deeper than the surface story. By exploring universal truths, societal issues, or personal growth, themes make a narrative relatable to a broad audience. They provide a lens through which readers or audiences can view their own experiences, prompting reflection and, at times, inspiring change.
10 common themes and examples
Certain themes come up again and again in literature and writing. This isn’t a coincidence—these themes are often universally recognized through the shared human experience. Let’s look at some common themes and examples.
1 Beauty
In many cases, works that explore beauty as a theme explore the very concept of beauty itself. What is beauty? What makes something or someone beautiful? Other works explore and deconstruct beauty standards, sometimes in the context of how these beauty standards privilege one group over another.
What’s an example of the theme of beauty?
In The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison explores the theme of beauty through a character’s desire to have blue eyes like Shirley Temple, whom the character considers beautiful.
2 Good vs. evil
Good versus evil is perhaps the most well-known literary theme. Think of just about any novel or movie—the Harry Potter series, Star Wars—and you’ll likely find good versus evil as the theme. Broadly, this theme is about how good and evil forces are, and always have been, at odds with each other.
What’s an example of the theme of good vs. evil?
In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the struggle between the pure-hearted hobbits and the dark lord Sauron epitomizes the classic battle of good versus evil, highlighting themes of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring power of friendship in the face of darkness.
3 Coming of age
Many narratives, particularly those aimed at young adults and younger audiences, focus on coming-of-age themes. We all come of age, but when, how, and the circumstances surrounding it vary wildly from person to person.
What’s an example of the coming-of-age theme?
In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the coming-of-age theme is portrayed through the life of Pip, a young boy who learns about the complexities of life, love, and social class as he grows into adulthood. He ultimately discovers the true value of integrity and the futility of wealth without character.
4 Loyalty
Loyalty is one of the forces that keeps friendships intact, families in power, and the status quo in place. In a story with loyalty as one of its themes, the author might explore whether these conditions are desirable—or if the loyalty keeping them in place is more destructive than beneficial.
What’s an example of the theme of loyalty?
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth explores the theme of loyalty through the character of Banquo, who remains loyal to the true king and his moral compass despite the temptation of power and prophecy. His character’s actions contrast sharply with Macbeth’s betrayal, underscoring the value of loyalty and its potential cost in a treacherous world.
5 Betrayal
Like loyalty, betrayal is a common theme. You’ve probably encountered these themes together, as betrayal is the violation of loyalty. A work exploring betrayal might ask when betrayal is justified or explore the actions that constitute betrayal and the repercussions that can follow.
What’s an example of the theme of betrayal?
In the film The Godfather, the theme of betrayal is depicted through the character of Fredo Corleone. His act of betraying his brother Michael, the head of the Corleone Mafia family, underlines the complexity of loyalty within a crime family, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
6 Life and death
Life and death are common literary themes because they are universally shared experiences. Stories might explore themes of life cycles, struggles with mortality, or life after death (in the literal or metaphorical sense).
What’s an example of the themes of life and death?
Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White, explores the theme of life and death through the story of Wilbur the Pig and his friend Charlotte the Spider. It teaches young readers about the natural cycle of life, the importance of friendship, and the lasting impact of memories in the face of mortality.
7 Justice
The world isn’t always fair, justice isn’t always served, and when it is, it doesn’t always look how we imagined it would. Narratives with the theme of justice explore these ideas. They may also examine justice even when it’s unpopular, justice in the face of social pressure, and justice as morality.
What’s an example of the theme of justice?
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird explores justice through Tom Robinson’s trial, highlighting legal and societal racism and prejudice. It also honors the bravery of those like the noble lawyer Atticus Finch, who upholds moral values against adversity.
8 Family
Family is another universal theme because it pushes us to consider where we come from, how we fit into social groups, and how our formative experiences have shaped us. Stories with family themes explore family dynamics, resilience, life cycles, and how ideologies are passed (or not passed) from generation to generation.
What’s an example of the theme of family?
Coco is an animated film that explores the theme of family as young Miguel embarks on a journey through the Land of the Dead. There, he uncovers his family’s history and reconciles their long-standing ban on music with his passion for playing the guitar.
9 Power
Power is a common theme in literature because it reflects the human experience of struggle, control, and influence. Stories dealing with this theme might ask questions about how power is attained and retained, who holds power, how power is transferred, and how power can impact an individual or a group.
What’s an example of the theme of power?
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a compelling example of the theme of power, illustrating how power can corrupt. In the novel, farm animals overthrow their human farmer to create an equal society, only to see power concentrated in the hands of a tyrannical few.
10 Change vs. tradition
Change versus tradition is a common theme in literature because it encapsulates the universal conflict between progress and preserving established norms. Stories might explore this theme by asking when change is necessary, how to implement change, and when tradition helps rather than holds people back.
What’s an example of the theme of change vs. tradition?
The musical Fiddler on the Roof grapples with change versus tradition as the protagonist, Tevye, attempts to maintain his cultural and religious traditions amid the pressures of societal changes and his daughters’ desire to marry for love.
How to identify themes in writing and literature
To recognize themes in writing and literature, look at what’s going on beyond the story’s literal action. Ask what the characters are thinking and feeling and what might be motivating their actions. Authors often use both direct characterization and indirect characterization to create three-dimensional characters. These characters’ actions, reactions, and roles in their settings often communicate the story’s themes.
Look for symbolism, too. Authors often use symbolism to communicate themes. Consider how certain symbols might be examples of allusions or allegories, like how George Orwell used allusions to actual political figures in Animal Farm, an allegory about inequality, power, and control.
Close reading
Close reading is a strategy used to identify themes in literature. It involves analyzing creative work by paying close attention to word choices, use of literary devices, and other patterns to infer the author’s thoughts about their subjects. Take note of something that sticks out to you, like an intriguing oxymoron or formatting that’s not quite the norm. It could be a device the author used to communicate their work’s theme.
Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves is well known for its unique formatting, and this formatting can be interpreted as an expression of the book’s theme of navigating trauma, which can be a winding, mazelike process.
In literature, recurring patterns are known as motifs. As you read, pay close attention to any motifs you recognize because these often communicate a work’s themes. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, we see a motif of biblical references. These communicate the novel’s theme of the dangers of theocracy.
3 steps for using themes in writing
1 Map out themes and literary devices
Your story’s theme should be on your mind throughout every stage of the writing process. As you brainstorm, think about the statements you want to make in your work. Capture these, then determine potential symbols or concepts you can use to illustrate these statements.
2 Don’t force a theme
Keep in mind that for some readers, themes emerge later. So, if you want to explore a setting, character, or plot point but aren’t sure which themes to examine yet, that’s perfectly fine.
Write your story how you want to, and see where the narrative takes you. It can be helpful to keep the idea of a theme at the forefront of your mind as you write to guide you toward plot points, plot twists, and details to include.
Remember, when writing creatively, there are no rigid requirements like academic writing. While reading your first draft, you might find patterns emerging. You might even see themes emerging. Build on them in the second draft.
3 Find inspiration in stories with similar themes
If you aren’t quite sure how to convey your theme, read or watch works with similar themes. Take note of how these authors and directors communicated their themes, and think about ways to use devices similarly in your work.
Theme FAQs
What is a theme in literature?
A literary work’s theme is the universal message it communicates.
How do themes work?
Themes provoke readers to think critically about a creative work’s statement. A work’s theme might challenge a dominant cultural narrative or drive readers to view a specific character archetype through a new lens.
What are some common themes?
- Beauty
- Good versus evil
- Coming of age
- Loyalty
- Betrayal
- Life and death
- Justice
- Family
- Power
- Change versus tradition
