Terms often confused!Terms often confused!

Plot? Plot? Issue? Issue? Theme?Theme?

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

some people use the term some people use the term ““themetheme”” very loosely, as if it is synonymous very loosely, as if it is synonymous with with plotplot or or subjectsubject. .

it is not! Students it is not! Students mustmust express a express a theme of a work far more precisely in theme of a work far more precisely in their own writing. their own writing.

What is a theme?What is a theme?

A theme is a sort of A theme is a sort of ““life-lesson,life-lesson,”” that is, a that is, a generalization about life implied in a work generalization about life implied in a work which can be supported (proven) by which can be supported (proven) by specific details in that work. specific details in that work.

you do not have to agreeyou do not have to agree with what the with what the author is implying about life, but author is implying about life, but you do you do need to be able to understand and need to be able to understand and express it. express it.

What is What is plot?plot?

Plot simply means Plot simply means what actually what actually happens. happens. Another term is “Another term is “story story line.”line.”

Some related terms: foreshadowing, Some related terms: foreshadowing, suspense, conflict, climax, all of suspense, conflict, climax, all of which move the plot or story line which move the plot or story line forward.forward.

Theme or Topic? (or Issue?)Theme or Topic? (or Issue?)

You are probably comfortable You are probably comfortable discussing discussing plotplot. But what is the . But what is the difference between a difference between a themetheme and a and a subjectsubject (or (or topic topic or or issueissue)? )?

Choose a movie you have all Choose a movie you have all seen . . . seen . . .

And try this exercise:And try this exercise:

WeWe’’ll practise ll practise

with with The Titanic.The Titanic.

Discuss and make brief notes Discuss and make brief notes under these headings:under these headings:

PLOT: summarize what happens as PLOT: summarize what happens as briefly as you can -- if possible, in 1-3 briefly as you can -- if possible, in 1-3 sentences.sentences.

SUBJECT(S): (if you prefer, you can SUBJECT(S): (if you prefer, you can use the term use the term ““topictopic””, which is slightly , which is slightly more general, or more general, or ““issueissue”” which is which is more sharply focused) more sharply focused)

one or more THEMESone or more THEMES

For clarity, set your notes up in For clarity, set your notes up in three columnsthree columns

PLOT (i.e., what actuallyhappens)

SUBJECTS or ISSUES (whatit is about):

THEMES: the ideas impliedabout the subjects

A young woman about to betrapped in a loveless marriageto a wealthy young man loseshim and the working-classlover she meets on board thefamous ship, who prevents hersuicide, in the sinking of theship. She survives.

1. the sinking of the famousship,

2. love,3. death and grief4. the class system

Pride (or class-basedarrogance) can lead todisaster.

Class differences shouldnot be a barrier to love.

Love grows when itencounters obstacles orchallenges.

Love endures beyonddeath.

(Notice that “love” itself is nota theme; it’s only a subjectuntil you decide what the“message” or idea ABOUTlove is.)

Let’s look at these more Let’s look at these more closelyclosely..

PLOTPLOT (i.e., what actually (i.e., what actually happenshappens))

A young woman is about to be A young woman is about to be trapped in a loveless marriage to a trapped in a loveless marriage to a wealthy young man. She loses him wealthy young man. She loses him and the working-class lover she and the working-class lover she meets on board the famous ship, meets on board the famous ship, who prevents her suicide, in the who prevents her suicide, in the sinking of the ship. She survives.sinking of the ship. She survives.

SUBJECTSSUBJECTS or or ISSUESISSUES (what it (what it is about):is about):

the sinking of the famous the sinking of the famous ship ship

love love death and griefdeath and grief the class systemthe class system

THEMESTHEMES: the ideas implied : the ideas implied aboutabout the subjects the subjects

Pride (or class-based arrogance) can Pride (or class-based arrogance) can lead to disaster.lead to disaster.

Class differences should not be a Class differences should not be a barrier to love. barrier to love.

Love grows when it encounters Love grows when it encounters obstacles or challenges.obstacles or challenges.

Love endures beyond death.Love endures beyond death.

Notice that Notice that ““lovelove”” itself is NOT a theme; it itself is NOT a theme; it’’s s only a subject until you decide what the only a subject until you decide what the ““messagemessage”” or idea ABOUT love is. or idea ABOUT love is.

Can you see the difference?Can you see the difference?

The The ISSUES or SUBJECT(S) ofISSUES or SUBJECT(S) of a story a story can be expressed in a word or phrase can be expressed in a word or phrase (grief, love, betrayal, war, revenge etc.)(grief, love, betrayal, war, revenge etc.)

PLOT detailPLOT detail (wealthy boyfriend treats (wealthy boyfriend treats fiancee badly) fiancee badly)

A real A real THEMETHEME statement always implies statement always implies an an attitudeattitude toward that subject and which toward that subject and which must be expressed in a complete must be expressed in a complete sentence.sentence.

Now try it yourself with your Now try it yourself with your group:group:

Take 10 minutes and Take 10 minutes and identify identify

the the plot plot (be brief -- 1-(be brief -- 1-3 sentences), 3 sentences),

2-3 2-3 subjectssubjects (topics/issues)(topics/issues)

and 1 or 2 and 1 or 2 themesthemes

Use any movie you Use any movie you think most of the think most of the class has seen. class has seen.

Maybe these . . .Maybe these . . .

Question:Question:

Can you see why Can you see why ““The The power of the mediapower of the media”” is is not really a theme not really a theme statement but statement but ““A free A free press is essential so press is essential so that the truth can be that the truth can be toldtold”” is is??

Answer:Answer:

The phrase The phrase ““the power of the mediathe power of the media’’’’ doesndoesn’’t actually give a specific idea t actually give a specific idea ABOUT the power of the media ABOUT the power of the media –– it is it is not a sentence. It actually doesnnot a sentence. It actually doesn’’t t even make clear whether the media has even make clear whether the media has a great deal of power or only a little. a great deal of power or only a little.

The other one, The other one, ““A free press is essential A free press is essential so that the truth can be told,so that the truth can be told,”” is a is a generalization telling you WHY the generalization telling you WHY the media matters; it is a generalization media matters; it is a generalization about life which could be supported by about life which could be supported by specific references to the novel.specific references to the novel.

Look again at the difference:Look again at the difference:

““the power of the the power of the mediamedia’’’’

this is just a this is just a topic/subject/topic/subject/

issueissue

““ A free press is A free press is essential so that essential so that the truth can be the truth can be told.told.””

notice that this notice that this gives a specific gives a specific idea ABOUT the idea ABOUT the power of the power of the mediamedia

Ready for a quiz?Ready for a quiz?

By now you should be able to tell the By now you should be able to tell the difference between a real difference between a real themetheme statement and one which is really about statement and one which is really about plotplot or or subjectsubject, even if it says “theme.” , even if it says “theme.”

Some of these “real” theme statements Some of these “real” theme statements are not necessarily brilliant, but they are, are not necessarily brilliant, but they are, at least, attitudes at least, attitudes aboutabout the subjects, not the subjects, not merely subjects. merely subjects.

Try these sample quiz questions.Try these sample quiz questions.

Statement Statement SubjectSubject Plot Plot ThemeTheme

The theme is love.The theme is love. __________ __________ __________The theme is the quest forThe theme is the quest for

self-knowledge in a confusing world. self-knowledge in a confusing world. __________ __________ __________Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. __________ __________ __________The theme is that she tried to recapture The theme is that she tried to recapture

the past and failed. the past and failed. _____ _____ __________ __________A crisis can bring out the best in some A crisis can bring out the best in some

people and the worst in others. people and the worst in others. __________ __________ __________You can’t recapture the past. You can’t recapture the past. __________ __________ __________The theme of the movie is that even The theme of the movie is that even

though he betrayed his brother, though he betrayed his brother, the brother forgave him. the brother forgave him. __________ __________ __________

The theme is good versus evil. The theme is good versus evil. __________ __________ __________The theme is revenge. The theme is revenge. __________ __________ __________

““The theme is love.”The theme is love.”

No; this is only a subject. No No; this is only a subject. No single word can ever be a theme.single word can ever be a theme.

““The theme is the quest forThe theme is the quest forself-knowledge in a confusing self-knowledge in a confusing

world.”world.”

This could be plot (because This could be plot (because of the word “quest”) or subject, of the word “quest”) or subject, but definitely not theme. There is but definitely not theme. There is no attitude expressed to that no attitude expressed to that quest. It is too neutral. quest. It is too neutral.

““Beauty is in the eye of the Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”beholder.”

Yes, this is a theme. It’s a cliché, but Yes, this is a theme. It’s a cliché, but it does express a particular it does express a particular generalization about beauty, that it is generalization about beauty, that it is subjective. There is a real idea here subjective. There is a real idea here ABOUT beauty. ABOUT beauty.

““The theme is that she tried to The theme is that she tried to recapture recapture

the past and failed.”the past and failed.”

This is merely plot!This is merely plot!

““The theme is good versus evil.”The theme is good versus evil.”

Absolutely not . . This is only a Absolutely not . . This is only a subject or topic or, if you prefer, an subject or topic or, if you prefer, an issue. But there is no idea expressed issue. But there is no idea expressed ABOUT good and evil, so it is not a ABOUT good and evil, so it is not a theme statement. theme statement.

““The theme of the movie is that The theme of the movie is that even though he betrayed his even though he betrayed his brother, the brother forgave brother, the brother forgave him.”him.”

Whoops -- this one is only a Whoops -- this one is only a statement about plot.statement about plot.

““You can’t recapture the past.”You can’t recapture the past.”

This one isn’t brilliant, and the This one isn’t brilliant, and the diction is too informal for most diction is too informal for most essays, but it does express an idea, essays, but it does express an idea, a generalization, ABOUT the past; a generalization, ABOUT the past; so yes, it is a theme. so yes, it is a theme.

““A crisis can bring out the best in A crisis can bring out the best in some people and the worst in some people and the worst in

others.”others.”

Definitely a theme . . . Definitely a theme . . . Something is being said ABOUT Something is being said ABOUT the effects of a crisis on the effects of a crisis on people. people.

““The theme is revenge.”The theme is revenge.”

““Revenge” is only a subject, not a Revenge” is only a subject, not a theme.theme.

Are you ready for a real quiz now? Are you ready for a real quiz now? Can you write confidently about Can you write confidently about

themes in literature? themes in literature?