Theme 文学原理教程课件

Theme

Definition

---- The central idea or statement about life that unifies and controls the total work.

A theme may be stated or implied. It is the perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to communicate.

Misconceptions about Theme

1. Each a novel has a theme / themes.

Theme only exists in the novel that ① seriously attempts to reflect life faithfully; ② intends to reveal truth about life; ③ are based on ideas or theories of life.

Eg: Novels of ratiocination (推理) / horror have no theme.

---- They are aimed at entertaining the reader, not at improving his understanding of life.

2. The theme is largely what the novel is.

The difference between Theme & Novel: Theme ---- An abstract idea appealing solely to the intellectual level of reading Vitamins Novel ---- A work of art appealing to the emotional level Vegetables

3. The theme is confused with a moral or lesson.

Moral / Lesson ① the advice stated or implied in a parable / fable; ② sth. of a rule by which one can regulate his behavior.

Eg: ---- Be kind to your neighbours. ---- Honesty is the best policy.

Theme ---- More complicated as a novel is to enhance one’s awareness of life rather than simply to tell him how to behave.

4. One novel has only one theme. Some have several subthemes to the main theme. Some are appreciated for their thematic ambiguity.

5. The theme is confused with the subject.

Subject ---- A matter / an affair Theme ---- An idea Subject ---- The topic on which an author has chosen to write. Theme ---- Some statement about or some opinion on that topic.

Eg: Love ---- Subject Love is invincible. ---- Theme

War ---- Subject War is useless. ---- Theme

Theme ---- Particular to the novel, though some are similar; Subject ---- Universal. Eg: The Scarlet Letter The Great Gatsby Women in Love Subject ---- Love Theme ---- Different