文学概论4 theme.ppt

Introduction to Literature Theme Definition of theme the central or dominating idea in a literary work the unifying point or moving force around which the plot, characters, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a story are organized a general claim or doctrine designed to incorporate and make persuasive to the reader (M. H. Abrams 111) the abstract concept made concrete through its representation in person, action, and image in a literary work (C. Hugh Holman 443) That is, normally the meaning of the text on a more abstract level. a message or lesson conveyed by a written text about life society human nature often explore timeless and universal ideas the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work most themes implicitly rather than explicitly stated An explicit example: John Milton says in Paradise Lost the theme is to “assert Eternal Providence,/And justify the ways of God to men” What are the themes of the short stories we have read? Implicit or explicit? different from the superficial outlay of the text often interpreted by readers in diverse ways, regardless of whether or not the theme discussed was the original intent of the author given very different themes by different authors Theme vs. subject subject: the focal point of the story; many works share identical subjects good and evil women’s liberation women’s awakening The Old Man and the Sea: an old man’s defeat in fishing theme: view, an controlling idea, often abstract; different works have different or distinctive views Good cannot survive without evil Women’s liberation is never easily won Women’s awakening is first of all sexual The Old Man and the Sea: “man is not made for defeat . . . [a] man can be destroyed but not defeated “ Themes for different works For a fable (a narrative featuring animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature), theme is a moral lesson, often expressed at the end be expressed explicitly In Aesops fable called The Ants and the Gra