Questions tagged [theme]
Questions about the theme or themes of one or more works of literature. "Theme" refers to a central idea or message in a literary work. A theme typically unifies the literary work and should not be confused with a "motif", which is a (smaller) recurring element; see the tag [motif].
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How does the red rose scene impact Hester's decision to keep their relationship a secret in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne?
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter," the red rose serves as a symbol of their shared passion and love. When Hester and Dimmesdale encounter the red rose in the forest, it ...
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Examining the parallels between R.K. Narayan's "Selvi" and "The Guide" - Why was it done? What did it achieve?
That there are several parallels between R.K. Narayan's novel The Guide (1958) and his short story "Selvi" (1982) is no secret, and I found many results (too many to sift through) that ...
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"The Gift of the Magi" Literary Analysis: Symbolism and Time
In O. Henry's short story The Gift of the Magi, Della's hair is likened to a "brown waterfall." Why is that symbolism significant? I've been wracking my brain, and I was thinking it maybe ...
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Is perception and understanding a theme in The Moon and Sixpence?
In The Moon and Sixpence, from the different perspectives of the different characters such as the narrator, Strickland's wife, Ata, Dirk etc show different views on Strickland, and while some of their ...
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Do Daniel Handler's novels for adults share themes or tone with his Lemony Snicket work?
Daniel Handler's A Series of Unfortunate Events, written under his Lemony Snicket pseudonym, delves into a great many intriguing themes -- the blindness and dysfunctionality of modern society; living ...
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Theme of ‘The Twenty-first Voyage of Ijon Tichy’ by Stanisław Lem
In ‘The Twenty-first Voyage of Ijon Tichy’ (1971) by Stanisław Lem, translated into English by Michael Kandel in The Star Diaries (1976), the space traveller Ijon Tichy lands on the planet of ...
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What is the main idea and the main problem of Dostoyevsky's Demons?
What is the main idea and the main problem of Dostoyevsky's novel Demons? I have tried to identify one main idea and the main problem of the novel, but in the end nothing came out.
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Lack of closure as a theme in the works of Isaac Bashevis Singer
While reading the works of Isaac Bashevis Singer over the past couple months, I've gotten the impression that Singer will often - especially in short stories - leave you with a sense that not ...
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Is there a central theme in I, Robot?
In the book I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, the author wrote several short stories, all usually revolving about robots of different types. It's possible to interpret the short stories with many different ...
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Macbeth is a play about power, what quote demonstrates this?
One of the topics of Shakespeare's Macbeth is power. In the play, it is demonstrated that one can use power to achieve what they want.
I am unable to find good, powerful quotes to prove this. What are ...
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Why do Ayn Rand's novels present specific, real things in a context designed to make them appear frivolous or ridiculous?
I will give only two examples. If anybody considers it necessary to see more than two examples, then it should be possible to find more examples.
The first example is in Atlas Shrugged, chapter 3 &...
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Is burning a theme in Jude the Obscure?
While researching to answer another Jude the Obscure question, I found a list of homework assignments related to this novel, in which the following one caught my eye:
Three times objects are burned --...
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Which element of an amputated virgin breast healing a snakebite is a "Celtic theme"?
The Breton folk song Gwerz Santes Enori has survived for centuries as an oral tradition combining storytelling with music. Its story, quoting Wikipedia's summary, begins like this:
The poem's story ...
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What is the theme of “The Deserted Road” by Sheila Burnford?
What is the theme of “The Deserted Road” by Sheila Burnford? This is part of the novel, The Incredible Journey, but I want to figure out the theme for this short excerpt. It is shown that the animals ...
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Is artists leaving their art forever a significant theme in R. K. Narayan's writing?
While reading the 1982 collection Malgudi Days of R. K. Narayan short stories, I noticed a common theme appearing in several of them, namely that of an artist who leaves their creative work behind ...
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Theme of William Wordsworth's poem "We Are Seven"?
"We Are Seven" is a poem by William Wordsworth and this poem depicts the innocent nature of a child who just does not want to understand that her siblings have passed away of natural causes and ...
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Common reoccurring themes in The Canterbury Tales?
I'm currently reading The Canterbury Tales for school and I'm struggling to find a common reoccurring theme for the tales. More specifically the Wife of Bath and Prioress tales. I thought about ...
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How is the theme of innocence featured in the Turn of the Screw?
I noticed that in the novel The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, there is a theme of innocence. It's really shown through how the governess perceives Miles and Flora at first, but then as she ...
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What is the first work of literature to reference existentialism?
Taking a class on existentialism and literature and I'm curious how far back the idea has been referenced in literature. What is the first work of literature to express the ideas of existentialism?
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How do Hamlet's thoughts and doubts about the afterlife affect him?
In Hamlet, there are many references to the afterlife, god, and what the consequences of his actions are.
My question is this: Did Hamlet's pre-conceptions about the afterlife ultimately affect his ...
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Are "the meaning of life", art, and in particular "the life of an artist" themes in Chekhov's drama "The Seagull"?
Are "the meaning of life", art, and in particular "the life of an artist" themes in Chekhov's drama "The Seagull"?
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