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Literary Themes

Beginning writers may find themselves wondering what their story is about. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes something bursts from your imagination, and you’re unsure where it came from. That said, when rewriting this first draft, it can be helpful to determine precisely your story’s theme.

Literary themes are the central ideas or messages in a work of literature. These themes can be explicit, meaning they are directly stated in the text, or implicit, meaning they are implied or hinted at by the events and characters in the story. Literary themes are often universal, meaning they can be understood and related to by readers from different cultures and backgrounds. Some common literary themes include love, loss, identity, power, conflict, and coming of age.

The theme of a work of literature is often closely tied to its characters, plot, and setting. For example, the theme of a love story may be the power of love to overcome obstacles and bring people together, while the theme of a coming-of-age story may be the journey toward self-discovery and independence. In addition, themes are often used by authors to convey a message or lesson to the reader or to explore a particular idea or issue in depth.

Understanding the themes in a work of literature can help readers to understand better and interpret the characters, plot, and setting, and can also help to enrich their reading experience by providing deeper meaning and context.

 Research aided by AI.

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