Theme
Definition
The underlying message or main idea that a literary work conveys about life, society, or human nature.
Analogy
Think of a theme as the moral of a story. Just like how every fable has a lesson to teach us, every piece of literature has a theme that teaches us something about ourselves and the world around us.
Related terms
Motif: A recurring element or symbol in a literary work that contributes to the development of the theme.
Symbolism: The use of objects, characters, or actions to represent abstract ideas or qualities.
Allegory: A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities.
"Theme" appears in:
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