Re: Help me define my story’s theme?

2.81K views

Hi English tutor,

It doesn’t allow me to reply to your answer… here is my reply.

Thank you for responding. Follow up questions:

1. Are themes set in stone? I saw your list of literary themes and movie themes. Are we obligated to only follow these themes? Or, can a theme be anything we want? For example, I didn’t see ‘Pleasure’ on your list of themes. Can ‘pleasure’ be a theme in a story or movie?

2. Can ‘secret vices’ be a theme in a movie or short story? For example, people doing things considered taboo in secret.

3. Can themes be ‘shown’ instead of told through dialogue? For example, shown visually via a scene in a short film: a person overeating because they love food, thus, the theme is pleasure? Could this become a permanent thematic strand?

Thank you!

English Tutor Answered question June 28, 2020
0
  1. No, it is up to your creative power. Also, context, situation, timing, and readers have impacts on the derivation of thematic strands from a literary piece.
  2. Yes, it can be.
  3. Yes, they can be shown through conversation. Yes, gluttony, too, becomes a permanent theme. It also depends on the script writer and the visualizer.

You are welcome.

English Tutor Answered question June 28, 2020