A young book reader. Photo from the public domain
If you've ever been assigned a book report, the topic may have been about the theme of the book. A book's theme is what the story is about, the main idea that flows through the narrative. A work of fiction may have one theme or many.

Theme Vs. Plot And Moral

A book's theme is not the same as its plot or its moral lesson, but these elements are related. The plot of a novel is the action that takes place within the course of the narrative.

The moral is the lesson that the reader is supposed to learn from the plot's conclusion. Both reflect the larger theme.

Don't confuse the subject of a work with its theme. The subject is a topic that acts as the foundation for a work of literature, such as marriage in 19th-century France.

A theme is an opinion the author expresses on the subject; for instance, the author's dissatisfaction with the narrow confines of French bourgeois marriage during that period.

A story's theme isn't typically stated outright. Often, it is suggested by a thinly-veiled lesson or details contained within the plot. In the nursery tale "The Three Little Pigs," the narrative revolves around three pigs and a wolf's pursuit of them. The wolf destroys their first two homes, shoddily built of straw and twigs. But the third home, painstakingly built of brick, protects the pigs and the wolf is defeated. The pigs (and the reader) learn that only hard work and preparation will lead to success. Thus, you can say that the theme is about making smart choices.

In "The Three Little Pigs," the third pig builds a house of bricks. Image from public domain
If you find yourself struggling to identify the theme of what you're reading, there's a simple trick you can use. When you finish reading a book, ask yourself to sum up the book in a single word. For example, you could say preparation best symbolizes "The Three Little Pigs." Next, use that word as the foundation for a complete thought such as, "Making smart choices requires planning and preparation."

Symbolism And Theme

As with any art form, the theme of a novel or short story may not necessarily be clear. Sometimes writers will use a character or object as a symbol or motif that hints at larger theme or themes.

Consider the novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," which recounts the story of an immigrant family living in New York City in the early 20th century.

The tree growing up through the sidewalk in front of their apartment is more than just part of the neighborhood background. The tree is a feature of both the plot and the theme. It thrives in spite of its harsh surroundings, much like the main character Francine as she comes of age.

Even years later, when the tree has been chopped down, a small green shoot remains. The tree serves as a stand-in for Francine's immigrant community and the theme of resilience in the face of adversity and the pursuit of the American dream.

Major And Minor Themes

There can be major and minor themes in works of literature:

A major theme is an idea that a writer repeats in his work, making it the most significant idea in a literary work.

A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an idea that appears in a work briefly and that may or may not give way to another minor theme.

Read And Analyze The Work

Before you attempt to identify the theme of a work, you must have read the work, and you should understand at least the basics of the plot, characterizations and other literary elements. Spend some time thinking about the main subjects covered in the work. Common subjects include coming of age, death and mourning, racism, beauty, heartbreak and betrayal, loss of innocence and power and corruption.

Next, consider what the author's view on these subjects might be. These views will point you toward the work's themes. Here's how to get started.

How To Identify Themes In Literature

Note the plot of the work: Take a few moments to write down the main literary elements: plot, characterization, setting, tone, language style, etc. What were the conflicts in the work? What was the most important moment in the work? Does the author resolve the conflict? How did the work end?

Identify the subject of the work: If you were to tell a friend what the work of literature was about, how would you describe that? What would you say is the topic?

Who is the protagonist (the main character)? How does he or she change? Does the protagonist affect other characters? How does this character relate to others?

Assess the author's point of view: Finally, determine the author's view toward the characters and the choices they make. What might be the author's attitude toward the resolution of the main conflict? What message might the author be sending us? This message is the theme. You may find clues in the language used, in quotes from main characters, or in the final resolution of the conflicts.

Note that none of these elements (plot, subject, character or point of view) constitute a theme in and of itself. But identifying them is an important first step in identifying a work's major theme or themes.

Your Book Report

Once you've determined what the main theme of the story is, you're almost ready to write your book report. But before you do, you'll need to re-read the text to find examples of what the theme of the book is. Be concise; you don't need to repeat every detail of the plot or use multi-sentence quotes from a character in the novel. Unless you're writing an extensive analysis, a few short sentences should be all you need to provide an example of a book's theme.

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