Purpose:
To explain, persuade, entertain, celebrate, inform, teach, reveal, focus, etc.
Audience:
Identified by age, gender, topics, interests, economic status, ethnicity, social status, profession, educational level, relationships, location, etc.
Created by language, content, topic, structure, format, etc.
Format:
Types: Novels, short stories, plays/drama, poems, lyrics, raps, TV shows, movies, videos, graphic novels, comic books, etc.
Genres: action, horror, drama (play), romance, mystery, suspense, comedy, dystopian, apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, science fiction, fantasy, etc.
Theme: the elements come together to create a message for the reader to understand about a specific topic. Good writers develop multiple themes and messages in a literary work (e.g., Shakespeare). Elements: plot, character, setting, point of view, tone, literary devices. Thesis statement: a sentence created by the reader that identifies the theme of the literary text, gives an opinion on its meaning, followed by supporting points (arguments) and proofs (examples) from the text itself (usually contained in a literary essay) Example: Great power brings about the moral destruction of the individual as demonstrated by the characters of the Emperor, Jabba the Hut and Darth Vader. (based on Star Wars films):
Informal thesis: absolute power corrupts absolutely. Theme Central idea in a piece of writing, the meaning of a topic as created by the writer's craft. Occurs in fiction (and sometimes non-fiction). Most lengthy texts, like novels or movies, have more than one theme. One could be dominant over the others. Short stories or TV episodes usually have one theme only, but occasionally more are Created through the use of literary elements:
Plot, character, setting, point of view, tone, and literary devices Analysis focuses on identifying details in the text (what? ) then determining the significance of these elements (so what? ) so that the theme of the story is revealed. Described using abstract nouns, mostly related to emotions. Examples:
Ambition
Fear
Leadership
Resurrection
Belonging
Friendship
Loss
Revenge
Coming of Age
Greed
Loss of innocence
Self-discovery
Corruption
Growth & Maturity
Love
Survival
Death
Hatred
Loyalty
Unity
Deception
Human nature
Power
Virtue
Evil
Jealousy
Redemption
Fate
Justice
Regret
Sometimes two opposite themes are used Examples:
Appearance versus reality Innocence to experience Birth and death Love and hate Fate versus choice Order to chaos Good versus evil Virtue and corruption Not to be confused with topic (narrow focus) War = Good v. Evil, Order to Chaos Women's rights = Belonging, Justice Mental illness/depression = Self-discovery Bullying = Belonging Not to be confused with technique (such as irony, humour) Not to be confused with writing style (such as parody or allegory) Identification of themes can go beyond one or a few words Informal theme statemen...