The Book of Hours Is an Example of What Theme of Art?

The recurring ideas or broad themes of books give united states insights into ideas such as 'love', 'honor', 'proficient vs evil' and much more. Read five theme examples from books that bear witness how to take your story's 'big ideas' and use them to create additional characters and subplots:

What is a theme?

To begin past defining theme, a theme is:

'An thought that recurs in or pervades a piece of work of fine art or literature' (Oxford English Dictionary).

This could exist, for case, a general idea or theory, such equally 'all people are inherently selfish' (although a pessimistic ane). Or nosotros may speak of theme in fifty-fifty broader terms. A reviewer might say an author examines themes of 'crime and punishment'. The events of the story in question might make the states ask, 'Why do criminals break the law?' or 'What is the real purpose of punishing a crime?'

Most books explore a unmarried theme (or more) from multiple angles, through multiple story scenarios.

In The Lord of the Rings, for example, the theme 'power corrupts' isn't only shown through the tyranny of the master villain, Sauron. Tolkien as well shows this theme in the fall from grace of Gollum, who kills to gain possession of the Ane Band. We likewise see the switch in allegiance of the wizard Saruman. We see, again and again, the corrupting aura of unbridled ability.

Through the ways authors illustrate and expand novel themes, we begin to understand the 'message' of their books, or rather the beliefs, concepts (e.g. 'power corrupts'), values or ideals a story explores. [You tin brainstorm ideas for your themes using At present Novel's stride-by-stride story prompts. Or share your ideas for thematic development in Now Novel groups.]

Themes too tend to go together. Because loving another person besides means risking loss, for example, love stories often characteristic loss. Every bit Nicholas Sparks says:

'In all love stories the theme is dearest and tragedy, so by writing these types of stories, I take to include tragedy.'

At present that we've unpacked what 'theme' is, here are 7 examples from books of how authors develop themes. Read how authors explore theme to create satisfying, structured stories:

v theme examples from novels and their development

1: Power and corruption in The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic ballsy fantasy cycle is an splendid instance of skilled story theme evolution.

We see Tolkien'due south chief themes already in the first book'south prologue. Tolkien shares how the antagonist Sauron forged the One Band merely in doing so created the seeds of destruction.

How Tolkien develops the story theme 'power corrupts'

Tolkien introduces the theme of 'power corrupts' in the prologue, and extends information technology.

Déagol, a river-dweller, finds the One Band that has been lying lost in a river bed 2000 years after its cosmos. His friend Sméagol (later Gollum, named after the guttural gulping sound he makes) covets the band and murders him, wanting information technology for himself.

Tolkien shows throughout the remainder of the fantasy cycle how the ring'southward power brings out his characters' baser, uglier instincts. He sustains his thematic focus by showing how the ring'southward ability tests and tempts his characters. Through these multiple instances of betrayal and temptation, we understand that giving in to the darker temptations of ability comes at a toll.

Tolkien further develops the 'power corrupts' theme in the fate of the 1 Band. The necessary destruction of the ring becomes a key plot point, yet accomplishing the task is not an easy feat. The journeying to Mountain Doom the characters have to undertake is perilous. Thus Tolkien shows the tenacity required to stand upwards to decadent power. This theme thus connects to other, related ideas (east.k. 'power corrupts but the brave tin can withstand temptation and suffering to overcome it').

Tolkien develops the story'due south themes of power and abuse by:

• Creating illustrative characters and events (The 1 Ring's cosmos; Sméagol'southward abuse and murder of his friend, etc.)
• Using boosted characters and events to create 'ifs', 'buts', and other exceptions. E.m. 'Power corrupts simply the brave or virtuous can withstand temptation'

Every bit you write, think about how scenes can develop your biggest themes. What could boosted scenes illustrate about an idea such equally 'power corrupts' or 'love conquers when people have faith'?

2: Themes of crime and 'circumstantial morality' inLaw-breaking and Punishment

The title of the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevksy'southward Crime and Punishment tells us its primary themes. The main character Rodion Raskolnikov is a poor university student who kills a stingy pawnbroker. He rationalizes his murder past seeing it as a service to the many people at the hateful pawnbroker's mercy.

Yet, in the act, the pawnbroker's sister surprises Rodion and he kills her besides. She is not office of his plan and is, past comparison, undeniably kind and faultless. This development is crucial as Raskolnikov is driven to deeper madness by guilt. He has rationalized one killing to himself, merely the presence of the sister does non fit even the coexisting morality he's created for himself.

How Dostoevsky develops his story themes of 'crime' and 'circumstantial morality'

Throughout the story, Dostoevsky introduces other characters and situations besides the events that unfold around the killing. These deepen his themes.

For example, Rodion meets a drunk, then later the human's desperate, impoverished family. When the drunk is trampled to death by a horse, the protagonist 'donates' the money he stole after murdering the pawnbroker to the man's panicked widow to help her pay for the funeral.

We thus meet kindness and empathy in a 'criminal' character that phone call blackness-and-white judgments into question. We come across how Rodion'south deeds are determined, in some part, by the situations he finds himself in. This contradicts the idea that characters are purely 'good' or 'bad'. We realize that the same person can be capable of smashing cruelty and violence and also of acts of kindness.

This theme (of 'goodness' and 'wrongdoing' co-existing in the same person, depending on the circumstances) is adult further in a secondary character's arc.

A daughter of the dead drunkard human turns to prostitution to support her family unit. Dostoevsky takes bully care to show her kindness, selflessness and desire to help. Nosotros run across how characters can practice things their broader society may consider horrific while still holding positive qualities. We see how people's circumstances can exist the only things standing betwixt them and being true to society'southward (or their own) values.

Dostoevsky thus expands his themes to create complex primary and secondary characters. Their internal contradictions challenge our assumptions and fixed behavior.

To develop your ain themes similarly, ask:

• What assumptions lurk in my themes?For example, 'Only the brave survive'
• How can I challenge or deepen these ideas?For example, you could show one grapheme who survives through bravery, while a 2d cowardly one too survives thanks to good luck and the kindness of others. Showing these differences creates multiple possible lessons and interpretations

Develop Your Story and its Themes

Develop your story in structured steps and get feedback from the Now Novel customs.

LEARN More than

three: Themes of love and loss in Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook

As mentioned higher up, themes of loss often get paw in hand with romantic themes. Anyone who's ever loved knows that at that place are many things that can separate lovers. Changes in values and desires, infidelity and betrayal, external circumstances (whether interference past others or unavoidable distance) and more.

In Nicholas Sparks' novel The Notebook, themes of love (and what dear requires to flourish: Perseverance, religion, commitment and backbone) are just equally pervasive as themes of loss.

How Sparks develops novel themes of 'love' and 'loss' inThe Notebook

Sparks first introduces loss as a theme when the narrator, an quondam man, tells an onetime woman in a nursing dwelling the story of a summer romance betwixt Noah (a laborer) and a wealthy girl, Allie.

The two part because Allie'due south family is but vacationing in Noah'due south metropolis. Over the following year, Allie's disapproving female parent intercepts the letters Noah writes to Allie. At that place is loss of advice, caused by external forces.

Sparks piles on loss after loss. Noah serves in World State of war Ii, creating even greater geographical altitude betwixt he and Allie, for example. The theme of loss develops further [major spoiler alert] when Sparks reveals that the old man telling the story is Noah and the old adult female is Allie, now losing her retentiveness.

Sparks uses successive states of loss this mode to show the bravery and 'being there' – in spirit – loving another person requires. A secondary, optimistic theme follows this. The theme that love endures (despite setbacks, despite even non-recognition past the other) when the lover is able to proceed faith.

To grow your themes as Sparks does, equally you write your novel:

• Plan scenes that prove the ideas of your emerging themes through different incidents. For case, Allie's interfering female parent and the war both show that honey needs to withstand external divisive factors to suffer
• Think about the 'ifs', 'buts' and 'therefores' that follow on from themes. For example 'Sometimes love is enough … But external forces (e.g. interference, aging and Alzheimer'due south illness) are beyond our command'

4: Themes of honor in Homer's Odyssey

One of the oldest surviving stories (it is thought to have been composed in the 8th Century BC every bit a spoken tale), The Odyssey is an excellent example of developed story themes.

The story tells of the hero Odysseus' snaking journey home to the island of Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War.

The story opens with the Greek Gods discussing Odysseus' long journey and how, because he is honorable, he deserves their aid travelling dwelling.

HowThe Odysseydevelops the theme of 'laurels'

Before we read Odysseus' travels and trials, nosotros see his son Telemachus and wife Penelope back habitation in Ithaca.

Suitors, convinced Odysseus' has been killed and will not render, badger Odysseus' wife to choose one of them to remarry.

Homer continues the theme of honour (and the related themes of duty and revenge) by showing the suitors being dishonourable. They eat Odysseus out of business firm and dwelling in his absenteeism, showing no respect. Telemachus warns them that if they don't quit the family home voluntarily, at that place'll come a day when they'll face retribution.

The theme of honour is adult further. For example, Odysseus' faithful wife fears his death, but without confirmation she refuses to remarry. To deter the suitors, she tells them she will weave a shroud and can simply consider their proposals when information technology is complete. Yet every night, by torch-light, she unpicks the previous day's work, to put the suitors off longer.

This detail adds another dimension to the theme of honour. it shows that sometimes, a unremarkably dishonourable act (deceiving others) is necessary to uphold a greater honourable pick (Penelope's conclusion to remain loyal to Odysseus, to have faith).

Homer'due south development of the theme of 'honour' thus adds nuance to our understanding. We see, for example, in Penelope'south necessary deception, the idea that we should laurels only those who treat united states of america honourably themselves.

5: Themes of the dark side of science, engineering science and 'progress' in Margaret Atwood'southward Oryx and Crake

Margaret Atwood's novel Oryx and Crake explores a post-apocalyptic world where science without ideals almost kills the entire man race.

Atwood creates a world where multinational corporations dominion, showing the devastation relentless pursuit of profit and 'progress' can wreak.

How Atwood develops themes of 'the dangers of technological progress without responsibility'

As a child, the protagonist, Jimmy (who subsequently becomes known equally Snowman) has a friend Crake and the two picket videos such as live executions together. Early on scenes in the book show the dark side of the sheer variety of information we now accept admission to.

Jimmy and his friend grow up in a world where developing a peachy sense of right and wrong is difficult. Individuals have more freedom, but with that comes more power and responsibility.

As the novel progresses, we see more than of how people have brought near their own ruin. Jimmy/Snowman reveals [spoiler warning] that Crake became a bio-engineer, creating a drug that in turn created a fatal global pandemic.

To develop her master, dystopian themes, Atwood:

• Creates two graphic symbol paths that diverge: Jimmy/Snowman retains his awareness and compassion whereas Crake pursues discovery and power regardless of the cost
• Imagines an cease-game: What if 'progress' and 'profit' replace all ethical standards and concerns, without checks and balances?

Atwood takes her novel's theme  (the danger of technological progress without responsibleness or humanity) and pushes it to a conclusion that shows how much is at stake.

To develop your own story themes to end-points every bit Atwood does:

• Ask 'what would happen if':For example, if your theme were 'dearest conquers all', how could you continueto show this if 1 grapheme (like Allie inThe Notebook) lost their memory? Sparks does this by having Noah read Allie their personal history as though it is a fable, still wishing to share what they've created together
• Brainstorm ideas for end-games: What is the final result of your theme developing to a determination? For instance, if 'power corrupts', either the powerful'southward abilities must have checks and balances, or people (your characters) endure the consequences

Get-go developing your themes now: Use the idea finder to begin thematic direction and purpose for your story.

atkinsrevent.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.nownovel.com/blog/theme-examples-from-literature/

Share this post