Common subjects include coming of age, death and mourning, racism, beauty, heartbreak and betrayal, loss of innocence and power and corruption. But the third home, painstakingly built of brick, protects the pigs and the wolf is defeated. If you find yourself struggling to identify the theme of what you're reading, there's a simple trick you can use. But the third home, painstakingly built of brick, protects the pigs and the wolf is defeated. It thrives in spite of its harsh surroundings, much like the main character Francine as she comes of age. The subject is a topic that acts as the foundation for a work of literature, such as marriage in 19th-century France. 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. 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. The pigs (and the reader) learn that only hard work and preparation will lead to success. Sometimes writers will use a character or object as a symbol or motif that hints at larger theme or themes. A major theme is an idea that a writer repeats in his work, making it the most significant idea in a literary work. Common subjects include coming of age, death and mourning, racism, beauty, heartbreak and betrayal, loss of innocence and power and corruption. What might be the author's attitude toward the resolution of the main conflict? Sometimes writers will use a character or object as a symbol or motif that hints at larger theme or themes.