MOST COMMON THEMES IN LITERATURE

Theme

• a universal idea, lesson, or concept explored through a literary text

• can be presented using characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination of all these things

Judgement

• a character is being judged for being different or doing wrong

• judgement doesn’t equal to justice

  • Mean Girls

  • To Kill a Mockingbird

  • The Scarlet Letter

  • The Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Survival

• main character must overcome countless odds just to live another day

• characters often battle nature

• life & death are important parts of the story

• defying all odds

• eliminates humanity

  • The Hunger Games

  • 2012

  • Bird Box

  • “Sci-fi”

Peace & War

• man has been at war with itself since the down of civilization

• characters are gripped in the turmoil of conflict while hoping for days of peace to come or reminiscing about the good life before the war

  • The Pianist

  • Troy

  • Descendants of the Sun

Love

• universal truth of love

• can be a force for good that inspires people to sacrifice themselves for others

• or a toxic force that drives people to madness or violence

  • The Summer I Turned Pretty

  • Romeo & Juliet

  • Forbidden Love, Family Love, Unrequited Love, Friendship

Heroism

• triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity

• false heroism or true heroism acts

• characters endure difficult circumstances or impossible odds to save humanity or others

  • Superman

  • Brave

  • Barbie

  • How to Train your Dragon

Good & Evil

• classic battle between light & dark is reflected in the coexistence of good & evil

• 2 characters directly against each other

• a main character against society at large

  • Wicked

  • Harry Potter

  • Maleficent

Circle of Life (Life & Death)

• life begins with birth and ends with death

• what comes around goes around

• death is inevitable

• life cycles of life after death

• may explore immortality

• circle of life is turned upside down

  • Age of Adeline

  • A Dog’s Purpose

  • Coco

Coming of Age

• growing up is not easy

• the journey of growing up into adulthood

  • Wild Child

  • The Breakfast Club

Suffering

• physical suffering an internal suffering

• makes a person stronger & develops character

• nurtures the reader’s ethical awareness

• inspire affinity & sympathy nonetheless

• filled with suffering as well as guilt

  • Five Feet Apart

  • Les Miserables

  • Bollywood Movies

Deception

• can be physical or social

• all about keeping secrets from others

• adds excitement to the story

• takes more energy to tell a lie than the truth