Analyzing a common theme in several works

Literature Essays: Analyzing a common theme in several works

What can we use that is common in nearly every work that will help us reinforce one common theme? (Ex. Freedom and Confinement)

Analyzing theme always involves generalizations and abstractions. There are universal themes that can be found in countless works of literature, such as love and hate, good and evil, innocence and experience, communication and isolation, life and death, society and the individual. A story or poem may be about a specific love affair, for example; it is easy to say the general subject is love, but interpreting the theme involves explaining what the work says about love. You can find commonality of theme in the works you are analyzing by using the following:

· Plot – What are the actions or events of the narrative and how are they presented? How do they relate to your theme? What are the most important traits of the main characters? How does their behavior reinforce the theme you are analyzing? Does the author support their views or is he a distant observer forcing you to judge them?

Introductory Paragraph

You can use plot components almost like anecdotes to support your theme (thesis statement)

Thesis Statement

· Conflict – What conflicts are dramatized? Are they internal conflicts (within the minds of people) or external conflicts (between individuals or between people and the world)? How do these relate to the theme you are analyzing?

Topic sentence that alludes to your thesis statement and introduces conflicts that support your theme

Conflicts in the works that support your theme

Summarize your conflicts and mention that a discussion of tone is coming

· Tone – What is the prevailing tone of each work? That is, what attitudes toward the subject are conveyed by the narrator’s choice of words? Is the subject presented in a manner that is serious, satirical, playful, condescending, etc.? Does the tone support the theme you are analyzing?

Topic sentence that alludes to your thesis statement and introduces common tones in the works that support your theme

Elements of tone in the works that support your theme

Summarize the tone of each work and mention that a discussion of images is coming

· Images – Are there repeated images, or groups of related images in the work (e.g., various kinds of light and dark images)?  If so, what is the significance of these patterns?

Topic sentence that alludes to your thesis statement and introduces images

in each of the works that support your theme

Images in the works that support your theme

Summarize the images of each work and mention that a discussion of symbols is coming

· Symbols – Are the symbols conventional, familiar ones (e.g., a rose symbolizing love, a cross representing Christianity). Do the symbols contained in the works you are analyzing support the theme in each of these works?

Topic sentence that alludes to your thesis statement and introduces symbols in each of the works that support your theme

Symbols in the works that support your theme

Summarize the symbols of each work and mention that your summary is coming

· Summary – What ideas are implied by the total impression of the whole work? Sometimes theme is revealed only when the work is viewed as a whole. Is your theme present in all the works? Do the authors use predominantly emotional, logical or ethical appeals? Are we able to draw a conclusion(s) about life and its meaning as a result of analyzing these works?