What Is Theme - A Look at 20 Common Themes in Literature

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What is Theme? A Look at 20 Common Themes in

Literature
August 2, 2021 by Sean Glatch — 5 Comments
When someone asks you “What is this book about?”, there are a few ways you can answer. There’s
“plot,” which refers to the literal events in the book, and there’s “character,” which refers to the
people in the book and the struggles they overcome. Finally, there are themes in literature that
correspond with the work’s topic and message. But what is theme in literature?
The theme of a story refers to that story’s deeper meaning. All works of literature contend with
certain complex ideas, and theme is how a story or poem approaches these ideas.
There are countless ways to approach the theme of a story or poem, so we’ll take a look at some
theme examples and a list of themes in literature. We’ll also discuss the differences between theme
https://writers.com/common-themes-in-literature 1/21
3/20/22, 11:53 AM What is Theme? A Look at 20 Common Themes in Literature | Writers.com
and other devices, like theme vs moral and theme vs topic. Finally, we examine why theme is so
essential to any work of literature, including your own writing.
But first, what is theme? Let’s explore what theme is—and what theme isn’t.
Theme Definition
Theme describes the central idea(s) that a piece of writing explores. Rather than stating this theme
directly, the author will look at theme using the set of literary tools at their disposal. The theme of a
story or poem will be explored through elements like characters, plot, settings, conflict, and even
word choice and literary devices.
Theme describes the central idea(s) that a piece of writing explores.
All works of literature have these “central ideas,” even if those ideas aren’t immediately
understandable.
Justice, for example, is a theme that shows up in a lot of classical works. To Kill a Mockingbird
contends with racial justice, especially at a time when the U.S. justice system was exceedingly
stacked against African Americans. How can a nation call itself just when justice is used as a weapon?
By contrast, the play Hamlet is about the son of a recently-executed king. Hamlet seeks justice for
his father and vows to kill Claudius—his father’s killer—but routinely encounters the paradox of
revenge. Can justice really be found through more bloodshed?
Clearly, these two works contend with justice in unrelated ways. All themes in literature are broad
and open-ended, allowing writers to explore their own ideas about these complex topics.
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20 Common Themes in Literature

Let’s look at some common themes in literature. The ideas presented within this list of themes in
literature show up in novels, memoirs, poems, and stories throughout history.
Theme Theme Definition Theme Examples

Circle of Life What comes around, goes around. The Circle of Life dwells on Where the Red
life’s transience and impermanence: how death isn’t death, just Fern Grows by
an evolution. Wilson Rawls
Jane Eyre by
Charlotte
Bronte
Also known as a bildungsroman, Coming of Age involves the Great
Coming of
intense experiences of growing up, and how these experiences Expectations
Age
shape the future of the protagonist. by Charles
Dickens
The Brothers
Karamazov by
Faith vs Whether it’s faith in God, other people, or the protagonist’s Fyodor
Doubt own self, believing isn’t easy—but is it worth doing anyway? Dostoevsky
Anna Karenina
by Leo Tolstoy
Many families are connected by blood, but to overcome certain Homegoing by
Family obstacles, literary families must strengthen their ties to each Yaa Gyasi
other. Pachinko by
Min Jin Lee
Romeo & Juliet

by William
Shakespeare
Fate vs Free How much of our actions are decided by fate, and how much The Alchemist
Will does free will really control? by Paulo
Coelho
Doctor Faustus
by Christopher
Marlowe
One can argue that every story is about good vs evil, assuming The Strange
the story has a protagonist and antagonist. Still, good and evil Case of Dr.
Good vs Evil Jekyll and Mr.
are in eternal conflict with each other, so writers must
document how this conflict evolves. Hyde by Robert
Louis
Stevenson
Hubris Hubris refers to excessive self-confidence and the terrible Frankenstein

decisions that arise from it. Many works of literature explore by Mary Shelley
hubris as man’s defiance of God/the gods, or else man himself The Iliad by
playing God. Homer
The story of
Adam & Eve in
The Book of
Genesis
Kafka on the
Shore by
At some point in their life, the protagonist asks the question: Haruki
who am I? Murakami
Additionally, “Identity” refers to the qualities that make one The Idiot by Elif
Identity person distinct from another. How much of a difference exists Batuman
between you and I? Encircling by
Carl Frode
Tiller
To Kill a
Mockingbird by
Harper Lee
Hamlet by
What makes a society just? What are the proper consequences William
for people who do the wrong thing? Who is best equipped to Shakespeare
Justice
dispense justice? Are we collectively responsible for each Crime and
other’s actions? Punishment by
Fyodor
Dostoevsky
Colorless
Tsukuru Tazaki
and His Years
of Pilgrimage
Loneliness affects the way people think, act, and view the by Haruki
world. The theme of loneliness charts how certain characters Murakami
Loneliness
contend with their loneliness, and whether man can survive “A Clean, Well-
this disconnection from others. Lighted Place”
by Ernest
Hemingway
Lord of the
Flies by William
Golding
Into the Forest
Man vs Man’s natural inclination is to dominate the land, but nature by Jean
Nature has its own means of survival. Hegland
Power by Linda
Hogan
Man vs Self Sometimes, the protagonist is their own adversary. In order to Their Eyes
overcome certain challenges, the protagonist must first Were Watching
overcome their own internal conflicts.
God by Zora
Neale Hurston
Nineteen
Eighty-Four: A
Novel by
George Orwell
The
When the story’s antagonist is society-at-large, the protagonist Handmaid’s
Man vs Tale by
must convince the world that it’s sick—or else die trying. Some
Society Margaret
protagonists also try to escape society altogether.
Atwood
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray
Bradbury
In the Time of
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This the Butterflies
Power and theme is often closely related to “Man vs Society.” Additionally, by Julia Alvarez
Corruption “Power” can refer to a person’s political leadership, personal Animal Farm by
wealth, physical prowess, etc. George Orwell
Wuthering
Heights by
Emily Bronte
Why be Happy
Love makes the world go round, but it’s not always easy to find. When You
Pursuit of Whether it’s romantic, familial, or platonic love, there’s much to Could be
Love be said about love’s pursuit—and the conflict that comes from Normal? By
pursuing it. Jeanette
Winterson
Emma by Jane
Austen
The Count of
When someone wrongs you or the people you love, revenge is Monte Cristo
Revenge tempting. But, is revenge worth it? Can revenge beget justice? by Alexandre
And how far is too far? Dumas
Beloved by
When you truly love someone, you’re willing to sacrifice Toni Morrison
Sacrificial everything for them. Sacrifice is a component of all themes The Leavers by
Love concerning love, though this is especially true for stories about Lisa Ko
motherly love.
Survival When survival is at stake, people discover the limits of their Sir Gawain and
own power. The theme of survival applies to stories about the Green
being lost in the wilderness, but it also applies to stories about Knight, author
the survival of ideas, groups, and humanity-at-large. unknown
Oryx and Crake
by Margaret
Atwood
Heart of
Darkness by
Joseph Conrad
My Year of
Meats by Ruth
Whether it’s because of technology, climate change, or our Ozeki
The increasingly online world, man’s relationship to the Prodigal
Environment environment is ever-evolving. Themes in literature concerning Summer by
the environment often coincide with “man vs nature.” Barbara
Kingsolver
For Whom the

Bell Tolls by
Ernest
Mankind has been at war with itself since the dawn of Hemingway
civilization. The causes of war, as well as its impacts on society, The Red Badge
War of Courage by
are topics of frequent musing by writers—especially writers
who have been at war themselves. Stephen Crane
The Art of War
by Sun Tzu
Theme Examples
Let’s take a closer look at how writers approach and execute theme. Themes in literature are
conveyed throughout the work, so while you might not have read the books in the following theme
examples, we’ve provided plot synopses and other relevant details where necessary. We analyze the
following:
Power and Corruption in the novel Animal Farm

Loneliness in the short story “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”
Love in the Poem “How Do I Love Thee”
Theme Examples: Power and Corruption in the Novel Animal

Farm
At its simplest, the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory that represents the rise and
moral decline of Communism in Russia. Specifically, the novel uncovers how power corrupts the
leaders of populist uprisings, turning philosophical ideals into authoritarian regimes.
Most of the characters in Animal Farm represent key figures during and after the Russian Revolution.
On an ailing farm that’s run by the negligent farmer Mr. Jones (Tsar Nicholas II), the livestock are
ready to seize control of the land. The livestock’s discontent is ripened by Old Major (Karl
Marx/Lenin), who advocates for the overthrow of the ruling elite and the seizure of private land for
public benefit.
After Old Major dies, the pigs Napoleon (Joseph Stalin) and Snowball (Leon Trotsky) stage a revolt.
Mr. Jones is chased off the land, which parallels the Russian Revolution in 1917. The pigs then instill
“Animalism”—a system of government that advocates for the rights of the common animal. At the
core of this philosophy is the idea that “all animals are equal”—an ideal that, briefly, every animal
upholds.
Initially, the Animalist Revolution brings peace and prosperity to the farm. Every animal is well-fed,
learns how to read, and works for the betterment of the community. However, when Snowball starts
implementing a plan to build a windmill, Napoleon drives Snowball off of the farm, effectively
assuming leadership over the whole farm. (In real life, Stalin forced Trotsky into exile, and Trotsky
spent the rest of his life critiquing the Stalin regime until he was assassinated in 1940.)
Napoleon’s leadership quickly devolves into demagoguery, demonstrating the corrupting influence
of power and the ways that ideology can breed authoritarianism. Napoleon uses Snowball as a
scapegoat for whenever the farm has a setback, while using Squealer (Vyacheslav Molotov) as his
private informant and public orator.
Eventually, Napoleon changes the tenets of Animalism, starts walking on two legs, and acquires
other traits and characteristics of humans. At the end of the novel, and after several more conflicts,
purges, and rule changes, the livestock can no longer tell the difference between the pigs and
humans.
Themes in Literature: Power and Corruption in Animal Farm

So, how does Animal Farm explore the theme of “Power and Corruption”? Let’s analyze a few key
elements of the novel.
Plot: The novel’s major plot points each relate to power struggles among the livestock. First, the
livestock wrest control of the farm from Mr. Jones; then, Napoleon ostracizes Snowball and turns
him into a scapegoat. By seizing leadership of the farm for himself, Napoleon grants himself massive
power over the land, abusing this power for his own benefit. His leadership brings about purges,
rule changes, and the return of inequality among the livestock, while Napoleon himself starts to look
more and more like a human—in other words, he resembles the demagoguery of Mr. Jones and the
abuse that preceded the Animalist revolution.
Thus, each plot point revolves around power and how power is wielded by corrupt leadership. At its
center, the novel warns the reader of unchecked power, and how corrupt leaders will create echo
chambers and private militaries in order to preserve that power.
Characters: The novel’s characters reinforce this message of power by resembling real life events.
Most of these characters represent real life figures from the Russian Revolution, including the
ideologies behind that revolution. By creating an allegory around Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, and the
other leading figures of Communist Russia’s rise and fall, the novel reminds us that unchecked
power foments disaster in the real world.
Literary Devices: There are a few key literary devices that support the theme of Power and
Corruption. First, the novel itself is a “satirical allegory.” “Satire” means that the novel is ridiculing the
behaviors of certain people—namely Stalin, who instilled far-more-dangerous laws and abuses that
created further inequality in Russia/the U.S.S.R. While Lenin and Trotsky had admirable goals for the
Russian nation, Stalin is, quite literally, a pig.
Meanwhile, “allegory” means that the story bears symbolic resemblance to real life, often to teach a
moral. The characters and events in this story resemble the Russian Revolution and its aftermath,
with the purpose of warning the reader about unchecked power.
Finally, an important literary device in Animal Farm is symbolism. When Napoleon (Stalin) begins to
resemble a human, the novel suggests that he has become as evil and negligent as Mr. Jones (Tsar
Nicholas II). Since the Russian Revolution was a rejection of the Russian monarchy, equating Stalin to
the monarchy reinforces the corrupting influence of power, and the need to elect moral individuals
to posts of national leadership.
Theme Examples: Loneliness in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”

Ernest Hemingway’s short story “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is concerned with the theme of
loneliness. You can read this short story here. Content warning for mentions of suicide.
There are very few plot points in Hemingway’s story, so most of the story’s theme is expressed
through dialogue and description. In the story, an old man stays up late drinking at a cafe. The old
man has no wife—only a niece that stays with him—and he attempted suicide the previous week.
Two waiters observe him: a younger waiter wants the old man to leave so they can close the cafe,
while an older waiter sympathizes with the old man. None of these characters have names.
The younger waiter kicks out the old man and closes the cafe. The older waiter walks to a different
cafe and ruminates on the importance of “a clean, well-lighted place” like the cafe he works at.
Themes in Literature: Loneliness in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”

Hemingway doesn’t tell us what to think about the old man’s loneliness, but he does provide two
opposing viewpoints through the dialogue of the waiters.
The younger waiter has the hallmarks of a happy life: youth, confidence, and a wife to come home
to. While he acknowledges that the old man is unhappy, he also admits “I don’t want to look at him,”
complaining that the old man has “no regard for those who must work.” The younger waiter “did not
wish to be unjust,” he simply wanted to return home.
The older waiter doesn’t have the privilege of turning away: like the old man, he has a house but not
a home to return to, and he knows that someone may need the comfort of “a clean and pleasant
cafe.”
The older waiter, like Hemingway, empathizes with the plight of the old man. When your place of
rest isn’t a home, the world can feel like a prison, so having access to a space that counteracts this
feeling is crucial. What kind of a place is that? The older waiter surmises that “the light of course”
matters, but the place must be “clean and pleasant” too. Additionally, the place should not have
music or be a bar: it must let you preserve the quiet dignity of yourself.
Lastly, the older waiter’s musings about God clue the reader about his shared loneliness with the old
man. In a stream of consciousness, the older waiter recites traditional Christian prayers with “nada”
in place of “God,” “Father,” “Heaven,” and other symbols of divinity. A bartender describes the waiter
as “otro locos mas” (translation: another crazy), and the waiter concludes that his plight must be
insomnia.
This belies the irony of loneliness: only the lonely recognize it. The older waiter lacks confidence,
youth, and belief in a greater good. He recognizes these traits in the old man, as they both share a
need for a clean, well-lighted place long after most people fall asleep. Yet, the younger waiter and
the bartender don’t recognize these traits as loneliness, just the ramblings and shortcomings of
crazy people.
Does loneliness beget craziness? Perhaps. But to call the waiter and old man crazy would dismiss
their feelings and experiences, further deepening their loneliness.
Loneliness is only mentioned once in the story, when the young waiter says “He’s [the old man]
lonely. I’m not lonely. I have a wife waiting in bed for me.” Nonetheless, loneliness consumes this
short story and its older characters, revealing a plight that, ironically, only the lonely understand.
Theme Examples: Love in the Poem “How Do I Love Thee”

Let’s turn towards brighter themes in literature: namely, love. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem
“How Do I Love Thee” is all about the theme of love.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Themes in Literature: Love in “How Do I Love Thee”

Browning’s poem is a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem that often centers around love and
relationships. Sonnets have different requirements depending on their form, but between lines 6-8,
they all have a volta—a surprising line that twists and expands the poem’s meaning.
Let’s analyze three things related to the poem’s theme: its word choice, its use of simile and
metaphor, and its volta.
Word Choice: Take a look at the words used to describe love. What do those words mean? What are
their connotations? Here’s a brief list: “soul,” “ideal grace,” “quiet need,” “sun and candle-light,” “strive
for right,” “passion,” “childhood’s faith,” “the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life,” “God,” “love thee
better after death.”
These words and phrases all bear positive connotations, and many of them evoke images of warmth,
safety, and the hearth. Even phrases that are morose, such as “lost saints” and “death,” are used as
contrasts to further highlight the speaker’s wholehearted rejoicing of love. This word choice suggests
an endless, benevolent, holistic, all-consuming love.
Simile and Metaphor: Similes and metaphors are comparison statements, and the poem routinely
compares love to different objects and ideas. Here’s a list of those comparisons:
The speaker loves thee:
To the depths of her soul.

By sun and candle light—by day and night.
As men strive to do the right thing (freely).
As men turn from praise (purely).
With the passion of both grief and faith.
With the breath, smiles, and tears of her entire life.
Now in life, and perhaps even more after death.
The speaker’s love seems to have infinite reach, flooding every aspect of her life. It consumes her
soul, her everyday activities, her every emotion, her sense of justice and humility, and perhaps her
afterlife, too. For the speaker, this love is not just an emotion, an activity, or an ideology: it’s her
existence.
Volta: The volta of a sonnet occurs in the poem’s center. In this case, the volta is the lines “I love thee
freely, as men strive for right. / I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.”
What surprising, unexpected comparisons! To the speaker, love is freedom and the search for a
greater good; it is also as pure as humility. By comparing love to other concepts, the speaker
reinforces the fact that love isn’t just an ideology, it’s an ideal that she strives for in every word,
thought, and action.
Themes in Literature: A Hierarchy of Ideas

“Theme” is part of a broader hierarchy of ideas. While the theme of a story encompasses its central
ideas, the writer also expresses these ideas through different devices.
You may have heard of some of these devices: motif, moral, topic, etc. What is motif vs theme? What
is theme vs moral? These ideas interact with each other in different ways, which we’ve mapped out
below.
Theme vs Topic
The “topic” of a piece of literature answers the question: What is this piece about? In other words,
“topic” is what actually happens in the story or poem.
You’ll find a lot of overlap between topic and theme examples. Love, for instance, is both the topic
and the theme of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem “How Do I Love Thee.”
The difference between theme vs topic is: topic describes the surface level content matter of the
piece, whereas theme encompasses the work’s apparent argument about the topic.
Topic describes the surface level content matter of the piece,

whereas theme encompasses the work’s apparent argument about
the topic.
So, the topic of Browning’s poem is love, while the theme is the speaker’s belief that her love is
endless, pure, and all-consuming.
Additionally, the topic of a piece of literature is definitive, whereas the theme of a story or poem is
interpretive. Every reader can agree on the topic, but many readers will have different
interpretations of the theme. If the theme weren’t open-ended, it would simply be a topic.
Theme vs Motif
A motif is an idea that occurs throughout a literary work. Think of the motif as a facet of the theme: it
explains, expands, and contributes to themes in literature. Motif develops a central idea without
being the central idea itself.
Motif develops a central idea without being the central idea itself.
In Animal Farm, for example, we encounter motif when Napoleon the pig starts walking like a
human. This represents the corrupting force of power, because Napoleon has become as much of a
despot as Mr. Jones, the previous owner of the farm. Napoleon’s anthropomorphization is not the
only example of power and corruption, but it is a compelling motif about the dangers of unchecked
power.
Theme vs Moral
The moral of a story refers to the story’s message or takeaway. What can we learn from thinking
about a specific piece of literature?
The moral is interpreted from the theme of a story or poem. Like theme, there is no single correct
interpretation of a story’s moral: the reader is left to decide how to interpret the story’s meaning and
message.
For example, in Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” the theme is loneliness, but the moral
isn’t quite so clear—that’s for the reader to decide. My interpretation is that we should be much
more sympathetic towards the lonely, since loneliness is a quiet affliction that many lonely people
cannot express.
Great literature does not tell us what to think, it gives us stories to

think about.
However, my interpretation could be miles away from yours, and that’s wonderful! Great literature
does not tell us what to think, it gives us stories to think about, and the more we discuss our
thoughts and interpretations, the more we learn from each other.
Why Themes in Literature Matter

The theme of a story affects everything else: the decisions that characters make, the mood that
words and images build, the moral that readers interpret, etc. Recognizing how writers utilize
various themes in literature will help you craft stronger, more nuanced works of prose and poetry.
“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” —

Herman Melville
Should I Decide the Theme of a Story in Advance?

You can, though of course it depends on the actual story you want to tell. Some writers certainly
start with a theme. You might decide you want to write a story about themes like love, family, justice,
gender roles, the environment, or the pursuit of revenge.
From there, you can build everything else: plot points, characters, conflicts, etc. Examining themes in
literature can help you generate some strong story ideas!
Nonetheless, theme is not the only way to approach a creative writing project. Some writers start
with plot, others with character, others with conflicts, and still others with just a vague notion of
what the story might be about. You might not even realize the themes in your work until after you
finish writing it.
So, experiment with ideas and try different ways of writing.You don’t think about the theme of a
story right away—but definitely give it some thought when you start revising your work!
Develop Great Themes at Writers.com

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Comments
Stephanie Johnson says

October 25, 2021 at 10:53 am
Sean Glatch,Thank you very much for your discussion on themes. It was enlightening and
brought clarity to an abstract and sometimes difficult concept to explain and illustrate. The
sample stories and poem were appreciated too as they are familiar to me.
High School Language Arts Teacher
Reply
Sean Glatch says

October 25, 2021 at 10:59 am
Hi Stephanie, I’m so glad this was helpful! Happy teaching 🙂
Reply
Marisol says
January 21, 2022 at 8:31 am
Wow!!! This is the best resource on the subject of themes that I have ever encountered and
read on the internet. I just bookmarked it and plan to use it as a resource for my teaching.
Thank you very much for publishing this valuable resource.
Reply
Sean Glatch says

January 21, 2022 at 8:38 am
Hi Marisol,
Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad to hear this article will be a useful resource.
Happy teaching!
Warmest,
Sean
Reply
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3/20/22, 11:53 AM What is Theme? A Look at 20 Common Themes in Literature | Writers.

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What is Theme? A Look at 20 Common Themes in

Theme describes the central idea(s) that a piece of writing explores.

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20 Common Themes in Literature

Theme Theme Definition Theme Examples

an evolution. Wilson Rawls

Romeo & Juliet

Hubris Hubris refers to excessive self-confidence and the terrible Frankenstein

For Whom the

Power and Corruption in the novel Animal Farm

Theme Examples: Power and Corruption in the Novel Animal

Themes in Literature: Power and Corruption in Animal Farm

chambers and private militaries in order to preserve that power.

Theme Examples: Loneliness in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”

Themes in Literature: Loneliness in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”

Theme Examples: Love in the Poem “How Do I Love Thee”

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Themes in Literature: Love in “How Do I Love Thee”

The speaker loves thee:

To the depths of her soul.

Themes in Literature: A Hierarchy of Ideas

Topic describes the surface level content matter of the piece,

Great literature does not tell us what to think, it gives us stories to

Why Themes in Literature Matter

“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” —

Should I Decide the Theme of a Story in Advance?

Develop Great Themes at Writers.com

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Stephanie Johnson says

Sean Glatch says

Hi Stephanie, I’m so glad this was helpful! Happy teaching 🙂

Sean Glatch says