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Theme Definition

What is theme? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

A theme is a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature. One key characteristic of literary themes is their universality, which is to say that themes are ideas that not only apply to the specific characters and events of a book or play, but also express broader truths about human experience that readers can apply to their own lives. For instance, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (about a family of tenant farmers who are displaced from their land in Oklahoma) is a book whose themes might be said to include the inhumanity of capitalism, as well as the vitality and necessity of family and friendship.

Some additional key details about theme:

• All works of literature have themes. The same work can have multiple themes, and many different works explore the same or similar themes.
• Themes are sometimes divided into thematic concepts and thematic statements . A work's thematic concept is the broader topic it touches upon (love, forgiveness, pain, etc.) while its thematic statement is what the work says about that topic. For example, the thematic concept of a romance novel might be love, and, depending on what happens in the story, its thematic statement might be that "Love is blind," or that "You can't buy love . "
• Themes are almost never stated explicitly. Oftentimes you can identify a work's themes by looking for a repeating symbol , motif , or phrase that appears again and again throughout a story, since it often signals a recurring concept or idea.

Theme Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce theme: theem

Identifying Themes

Every work of literature—whether it's an essay, a novel, a poem, or something else—has at least one theme. Therefore, when analyzing a given work, it's always possible to discuss what the work is "about" on two separate levels: the more concrete level of the plot (i.e., what literally happens in the work), as well as the more abstract level of the theme (i.e., the concepts that the work deals with). Understanding the themes of a work is vital to understanding the work's significance—which is why, for example, every LitCharts Literature Guide uses a specific set of themes to help analyze the text.

Although some writers set out to explore certain themes in their work before they've even begun writing, many writers begin to write without a preconceived idea of the themes they want to explore—they simply allow the themes to emerge naturally through the writing process. But even when writers do set out to investigate a particular theme, they usually don't identify that theme explicitly in the work itself. Instead, each reader must come to their own conclusions about what themes are at play in a given work, and each reader will likely come away with a unique thematic interpretation or understanding of the work.

Symbol, Motif, and Leitwortstil

Writers often use three literary devices in particular—known as symbol , motif , and leitwortstil —to emphasize or hint at a work's underlying themes. Spotting these elements at work in a text can help you know where to look for its main themes.

• Near the beginning of Romeo and Juliet , Benvolio promises to make Romeo feel better about Rosaline's rejection of him by introducing him to more beautiful women, saying "Compare [Rosaline's] face with some that I shall show….and I will make thee think thy swan a crow." Here, the swan is a symbol for how Rosaline appears to the adoring Romeo, while the crow is a symbol for how she will soon appear to him, after he has seen other, more beautiful women.
• Symbols might occur once or twice in a book or play to represent an emotion, and in that case aren't necessarily related to a theme. However, if you start to see clusters of similar symbols appearing in a story, this may mean that the symbols are part of an overarching motif, in which case they very likely are related to a theme.
• For example, Shakespeare uses the motif of "dark vs. light" in Romeo and Juliet to emphasize one of the play's main themes: the contradictory nature of love. To develop this theme, Shakespeare describes the experience of love by pairing contradictory, opposite symbols next to each other throughout the play: not only crows and swans, but also night and day, moon and sun. These paired symbols all fall into the overall pattern of "dark vs. light," and that overall pattern is called a motif.
• A famous example is Kurt Vonnegut's repetition of the phrase "So it goes" throughout his novel Slaughterhouse Five , a novel which centers around the events of World War II. Vonnegut's narrator repeats the phrase each time he recounts a tragic story from the war, an effective demonstration of how the horrors of war have become normalized for the narrator. The constant repetition of the phrase emphasizes the novel's primary themes: the death and destruction of war, and the futility of trying to prevent or escape such destruction, and both of those things coupled with the author's skepticism that any of the destruction is necessary and that war-time tragedies "can't be helped."

Symbol, motif and leitwortstil are simply techniques that authors use to emphasize themes, and should not be confused with the actual thematic content at which they hint. That said, spotting these tools and patterns can give you valuable clues as to what might be the underlying themes of a work.

Thematic Concepts vs. Thematic Statements

A work's thematic concept is the broader topic it touches upon—for instance:

• Forgiveness

while its thematic statement is the particular argument the writer makes about that topic through his or her work, such as:

• Human judgement is imperfect.
• Love cannot be bought.
• Getting revenge on someone else will not fix your problems.
• Learning to forgive is part of becoming an adult.

Should You Use Thematic Concepts or Thematic Statements?

Some people argue that when describing a theme in a work that simply writing a thematic concept is insufficient, and that instead the theme must be described in a full sentence as a thematic statement. Other people argue that a thematic statement, being a single sentence, usually creates an artificially simplistic description of a theme in a work and is therefore can actually be more misleading than helpful. There isn't really a right answer in this debate.

In our LitCharts literature study guides , we usually identify themes in headings as thematic concepts, and then explain the theme more fully in a few paragraphs. We find thematic statements limiting in fully exploring or explaining a the theme, and so we don't use them. Please note that this doesn't mean we only rely on thematic concepts—we spend paragraphs explaining a theme after we first identify a thematic concept. If you are asked to describe a theme in a text, you probably should usually try to at least develop a thematic statement about the text if you're not given the time or space to describe it more fully. For example, a statement that a book is about "the senselessness of violence" is a lot stronger and more compelling than just saying that the book is about "violence."

Identifying Thematic Statements

One way to try to to identify or describe the thematic statement within a particular work is to think through the following aspects of the text:

• Plot: What are the main plot elements in the work, including the arc of the story, setting, and characters. What are the most important moments in the story? How does it end? How is the central conflict resolved?
• Protagonist: Who is the main character, and what happens to him or her? How does he or she develop as a person over the course of the story?
• Prominent symbols and motifs: Are there any motifs or symbols that are featured prominently in the work—for example, in the title, or recurring at important moments in the story—that might mirror some of the main themes?

After you've thought through these different parts of the text, consider what their answers might tell you about the thematic statement the text might be trying to make about any given thematic concept. The checklist above shouldn't be thought of as a precise formula for theme-finding, but rather as a set of guidelines, which will help you ask the right questions and arrive at an interesting thematic interpretation.

Theme Examples

The following examples not only illustrate how themes develop over the course of a work of literature, but they also demonstrate how paying careful attention to detail as you read will enable you to come to more compelling conclusions about those themes.

Themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald explores many themes in The Great Gatsby , among them the corruption of the American Dream .

• The story's narrator is Minnesota-born Nick Caraway, a New York bonds salesman. Nick befriends Jay Gatsby, the protagonist, who is a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties at his mansion.
• The central conflict of the novel is Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy, whom he met and fell in love with as a young man, but parted from during World War I.
• He makes a fortune illegally by bootlegging alcohol, to become the sort of wealthy man he believes Daisy is attracted to, then buys a house near her home, where she lives with her husband.
• While he does manage to re-enter Daisy's life, she ultimately abandons him and he dies as a result of her reckless, selfish behavior.
• Gatsby's house is on the water, and he stares longingly across the water at a green light that hangs at the edge of a dock at Daisy's house which sits across a the bay. The symbol of the light appears multiple times in the novel—during the early stages of Gatsby's longing for Daisy, during his pursuit of her, and after he dies without winning her love. It symbolizes both his longing for daisy and the distance between them (the distance of space and time) that he believes (incorrectly) that he can bridge. 
• In addition to the green light, the color green appears regularly in the novel. This motif of green broadens and shapes the symbolism of the green light and also influences the novel's themes. While green always remains associated with Gatsby's yearning for Daisy and the past, and also his ambitious striving to regain Daisy, it also through the motif of repeated green becomes associated with money, hypocrisy, and destruction. Gatsby's yearning for Daisy, which is idealistic in some ways, also becomes clearly corrupt in others, which more generally impacts what the novel is saying about dreams more generally and the American Dream in particular. 

Gatsby pursues the American Dream, driven by the idea that hard work can lead anyone from poverty to wealth, and he does so for a single reason: he's in love with Daisy. However, he pursues the dream dishonestly, making a fortune by illegal means, and ultimately fails to achieve his goal of winning Daisy's heart. Furthermore, when he actually gets close to winning Daisy's heart, she brings about his downfall. Through the story of Gatsby and Daisy, Fitzgerald expresses the point of view that the American Dream carries at its core an inherent corruption. You can read more about the theme of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby here .

Themes in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

In Things Fall Apart , Chinua Achebe explores the theme of the dangers of rigidly following tradition .

• Okonkwo is obsessed with embodying the masculine ideals of traditional Igbo warrior culture.
• Okonkwo's dedication to his clan's traditions is so extreme that it even alienates members of his own family, one of whom joins the Christians.
• The central conflict: Okonkwo's community adapts to colonization in order to survive, becoming less warlike and allowing the minor injustices that the colonists inflict upon them to go unchallenged. Okonkwo, however, refuses to adapt.
• At the end of the novel, Okonkwo impulsively kills a Christian out of anger. Recognizing that his community does not support his crime, Okonkwo kills himself in despair.
• Clanswomen who give birth to twins abandon the babies in the forest to die, according to traditional beliefs that twins are evil.
• Okonkwo kills his beloved adopted son, a prisoner of war, according to the clan's traditions.
• Okonkwo sacrifices a goat in repentence, after severely beating his wife during the clan's holy week.

Through the tragic story of Okonkwo, Achebe is clearly dealing with the theme of tradition, but a close examination of the text reveals that he's also making a clear thematic statement that following traditions too rigidly leads people to the greatest sacrifice of all: that of personal agency . You can read more about this theme in Things Fall Apart   here .

Themes in Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken

Poem's have themes just as plot-driven narratives do. One theme that Robert Frost explores in this famous poem,  The Road Not Taken ,  is the illusory nature of free will .

• The poem's speaker stands at a fork in the road, in a "yellow wood."
• He (or she) looks down one path as far as possible, then takes the other, which seems less worn.
• The speaker then admits that the paths are about equally worn—there's really no way to tell the difference—and that a layer of leaves covers both of the paths, indicating that neither has been traveled recently.
• After taking the second path, the speaker finds comfort in the idea of taking the first path sometime in the future, but acknowledges that he or she is unlikely to ever return to that particular fork in the woods.
• The speaker imagines how, "with a sigh" she will tell someone in the future, "I took the road less travelled—and that has made all the difference."
• By wryly predicting his or her own need to romanticize, and retroactively justify, the chosen path, the speaker injects the poem with an unmistakeable hint of irony .
• The speaker's journey is a symbol for life, and the two paths symbolize different life paths, with the road "less-travelled" representing the path of an individualist or lone-wolf. The fork where the two roads diverge represents an important life choice. The road "not taken" represents the life path that the speaker would have pursued had he or she had made different choices.

Frost's speaker has reached a fork in the road, which—according to the symbolic language of the poem—means that he or she must make an important life decision. However, the speaker doesn't really know anything about the choice at hand: the paths appear to be the same from the speaker's vantage point, and there's no way he or she can know where the path will lead in the long term. By showing that the only truly informed choice the speaker makes is how he or she explains their decision after they have already made it , Frost suggests that although we pretend to make our own choices, our lives are actually governed by chance.

What's the Function of Theme in Literature?

Themes are a huge part of what readers ultimately take away from a work of literature when they're done reading it. They're the universal lessons and ideas that we draw from our experiences of works of art: in other words, they're part of the whole reason anyone would want to pick up a book in the first place!

It would be difficult to write any sort of narrative that did not include any kind of theme. The narrative itself would have to be almost completely incoherent in order to seem theme-less, and even then readers would discern a theme about incoherence and meaninglessness. So themes are in that sense an intrinsic part of nearly all writing. At the same time, the themes that a writer is interested in exploring will significantly impact nearly all aspects of how a writer chooses to write a text. Some writers might know the themes they want to explore from the beginning of their writing process, and proceed from there. Others might have only a glimmer of an idea, or have new ideas as they write, and so the themes they address might shift and change as they write. In either case, though, the writer's ideas about his or her themes will influence how they write. 

One additional key detail about themes and how they work is that the process of identifying and interpreting them is often very personal and subjective. The subjective experience that readers bring to interpreting a work's themes is part of what makes literature so powerful: reading a book isn't simply a one-directional experience, in which the writer imparts their thoughts on life to the reader, already distilled into clear thematic statements. Rather, the process of reading and interpreting a work to discover its themes is an exchange in which readers parse the text to tease out the themes they find most relevant to their personal experience and interests.

Other Helpful Theme Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Theme: An in-depth explanation of theme that also breaks down the difference between thematic concepts and thematic statements.
• The Dictionary Definition of Theme: A basic definition and etymology of the term.
• In this instructional video , a teacher explains her process for helping students identify themes.

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How to Write a Thematic Essay

A thematic essay explores a central message or theme that runs through a piece of literature, a historical event, or even a societal trend. It analyzes evidence like characters' actions, plot development, or real-world examples to explain how this matter is revealed and unpack its significance, showing a deeper understanding of the subject at hand.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what is a thematic essay :

• Analyzes a central message (theme) in a text.
• Explains how the text explores that theme.
• Uses evidence (quotes, details) to support your analysis.
• Shows how the evidence connects to the overall theme.

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Thematic Essay Checklist

• State a focused main argument about the theme.
• Hook the reader and introduce the theme.
• Begin each with a clear topic sentence related to the theme.
• Use specific examples, quotes, or facts.
• Explain how the evidence supports the thesis.
• Link analysis back to the central theme throughout.
• Ensure paragraphs and ideas progress logically.
• Summarize key points and restate the thesis.
• Check for clarity, coherence, and grammar.
• Properly cite sources used.

How to Pick a Thematic Topic

A crucial aspect of writing a good thematic essay is choosing a theme. Follow the hints listed below to help you create a thematic topic:

Thematic Essay Topics

• Star-Crossed Fate: Destiny in "Romeo and Juliet"
• Gatsby's Illusion: The Mirage of the American Dream
• Thoreau's Call to Action: Civil Disobedience and Its Echoes
• Grit and Grind: Industrial Strife in "Hard Times"
• Monster or Man? Isolation in "Frankenstein"
• Voices of Change: The Civil Rights Movement Unveiled
• Big Brother's Watch: Propaganda in "1984"
• Silent Scars: The Aftermath of War in "All Quiet on the Western Front"
• Pride, Prejudice, and Power: Women in Austen's World
• Cultural Cracks: Colonialism in "Things Fall Apart"
• Echoes of Justice: Moral Struggles in "To Kill a Mockingbird"
• Surviving Hard Times: Life During the Great Depression
• Invisible Chains: Identity in "Invisible Man"
• Worlds Apart: Control and Conformity in "Brave New World"
• Chains of Oppression: Freedom in "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
• Hester's Burden: Sin and Redemption in "The Scarlet Letter"
• Wired Society: The Tech Revolution's Impact
• Vengeance and Virtue: The Journey in "The Count of Monte Cristo"
• Island Power Struggles: Leadership in "Lord of the Flies"
• Dreams of Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Enduring Impact

How to Start a Thematic Essay

Every strong essay starts with a captivating introduction. For a thematic essay, this introduction should:

• Hook the reader: Grab their attention with a thought-provoking question, a relevant quote, or an interesting anecdote related to the theme.
• Introduce the topic: Briefly mention the literary work you'll be analyzing.
• State the theme: Clearly identify the central theme you'll be exploring.
• Preview the analysis: Briefly hint at how the theme is developed in the work.

Here's an example of a thematic essay introduction:

“Have you ever wondered why some stories keep coming back to the idea of forgiveness? In Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird , the seemingly simple town of Maycomb grapples with racial injustice. However, beneath the surface lies a powerful exploration of the theme of forgiveness, where characters must confront their own prejudices and learn to let go of resentment. This essay will analyze how Lee uses character interactions, symbolism, and the trial of Tom Robinson to demonstrate the transformative power of forgiveness.”

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Thematic Essay Outline

A thematic essay structure has several key components. Primarily, it should be five paragraphs or more, depending on the depth of the theme. Next, it should have a concrete thesis statement, which is the thematic statement that comes from the main subject.

The introduction presents the reader with the subject and the thesis statement. The body paragraphs each discuss one literary element or more to defend the validity of your thesis, all the while providing many supporting details from the text itself. 

Lastly, the thematic essay conclusion summarizes the main points presented and finishes off with a statement of significance.

Learn more: How to create a winning outline .

Introduction

The thematic essay introduction presents the main subject of discussion captivatingly. The first sentence of the intro should be a hook statement that makes some intriguing claims about the subject of discussion. If done correctly, this will grab your reader's attention. 

Then, provide any necessary background information from the literature to help the audience understand your claims later. Lastly, put together a well-thought-out thesis statement that reflects the novel's central theme.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs follow a thematic essay format. Since each body paragraph’s purpose should be to present a literary device as evidence, the topic sentence should introduce the claim and gateway into the evidence. Every topic sentence must mention a literary device and its relationship to the literature.

Afterward, to validate your claim, use examples from the book that strengthen the reasoning of your statement. These can be actions from the plot or quotations parallel with the central theme. Explaining how the action/quote links back to your thesis statement is imperative, as it shows that you can support your logic.

Remember : Each claim must use a literary device. It can not just be a random moment or inference. Thematic essays are all about proving thesis statements through critical literary devices.

The thematic essay conclusion has three main objectives before wrapping up the paper. It should not present any new information or facts but summarize the information already given. First of all, restate your thesis statement in a new way. 

Then, summarize the central claims you made within the body of your paper and their influence on the thesis statement. To finish off the entire work, present an overall concluding statement with a global analysis of the subject. Leave your reader with another hook, making him/her interested in digging deeper into the topic.

Learn more: Poetry analysis essay . 

Try also read an article on poetry analysis essay , it could be useful and can give you new insights.

Thematic Essay Example

The best way to familiarize yourself with this type of writing is to learn from thematic essay examples.

Wrap Things Up

Thematic essays are a powerful tool for students. They unlock deeper meaning in texts, sharpen critical thinking and analytical skills, and build strong writing foundations.

Before submitting your thematic essay, cross off all these items from the to-do list.

Learn more: Jem Finch character traits .

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What Is a Thematic Essay?

How to write a thematic essay, what is the main point of a thematic essay.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Updated writing steps.
• Added new topics.
• Added a new example.
• Added a checklist.
• https://www.wboro.org/cms/lib/NY01914047/Centricity/Domain/1006/Thematic%20Essays%20Helpful%20Hints.pdf
• Thematic Essay - Regents Exam Rubric  | New Visions - Social Studies. (n.d.). New Visions - Social Studies. https://curriculum.newvisions.org/social-studies/resources/resource/thematic-essay-regents-exam-rubric/
• How to Structure Your Essay Introduction | Essay Writing Part 2. (2023, October 31). Matrix Education. https://www.matrix.edu.au/essay-writing-guide/how-to-structure-your-essay-introduction/  

Thematic Essay: Guidelines for an A+ Paper

• Icon Calendar 8 August 2024
• Icon Page 6445 words
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Thematic essays are common writing assignments in college across all disciplines. Basically, this guide begins with a definition of a thematic essay and its format and provides examples of topics and papers for illustration. Further on, this manual deconstructs a specific process of writing a thematic essay. Moreover, a presented guide covers three core stages of thematic essay writing: preliminary actions, establishing a paper’s foundation, and writing. In turn, a working manual presents an outline template and an example of a thematic essay to demonstrate a real writing situation where a student implements these guidelines of thematic paper writing correctly. Finally, a discussed guide presents information on what people can include in their theme essays and common mistakes to avoid. Hence, students need to learn how to write a good thematic essay and excel in their academic endeavors.

General Aspects

A thematic essay is a form of academic writing that requires an author to react to a particular question or theme. In this case, instructors expect students to develop a written reaction to a question or theme by connecting various pieces of information to reach a reasonable conclusion. Moreover, writing a thematic essay has a high demand for research and a critical examination of subtle relationships that exist between sources. Then, an entire research process yields a significant amount of information, which learners may use to generate numerous logical relationships that lead to rational inferences. Consequently, students may select any set of evidence with a clear, logical association provided that their central claim centers on a theme of interest.

What Is a Thematic Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a thematic essay is a focused piece and type of writing that revolves around a specific theme, unique subject, or central idea. For example, the main purpose of writing a thematic essay is to analyze and understand underlying themes, concepts, or ideas presented in a given text, artwork, historical event, or any other subject of study (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Basically, such papers encourage critical thinking and comprehension by requiring students to make connections between a particular theme and various elements within a given subject, such as characters, settings, events, and symbols. Further on, this type of essay also aims to demonstrate people’s abilities to organize their thoughts coherently, present well-supported arguments, and engage with an assigned material on a deeper level (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). Moreover, these compositions often serve a particular educational purpose and help students to improve their analytical skills, writing proficiency, and ability to synthesize information. In terms of pages and words, the length of a thematic essay depends on academic levels and specific assignment criteria, while general writing guidelines are:

High School

• Length: 2-3 pages
• Word Count: 500-750 words
• Length: 3-5 pages
• Word Count: 750-1,250 words

University (Undergraduate)

• Length: 5-7 pages
• Word Count: 1,250-1,750 words
• Length: 10-15 pages
• Word Count: 2,500-3,750 words
• Length: 15-20 pages (or longer, depending on a complexity of a chosen topic and depth of research)
• Word Count: 3,750-5,000 words (or more, depending on specific dissertation requirements)

Note: Some sections of a thematic essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, and such a paper typically ranges from 500 to 1,500 words, depending on academic levels and specific assignment requirements. For example, a standard format of a thematic essay includes an introduction with a single thesis statement sentence that covers a central theme, several body paragraphs that explore different aspects of a chosen topic with supporting evidence, and a conclusion that summarizes an entire analysis and reinforces a central claim (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). As such, a specific theme in an essay is a central topic or underlying message that a writer explores and analyzes throughout an entire text. In writing, a main point of a thematic essay is to analyze and interpret a central theme within a specific text or subject, demonstrating how it is developed and its significance (Laurens, 2018). Moreover, students need to write a thematic essay when they are assigned to analyze and interpret a central theme in a particular text or subject, often in literature, history, or social studies courses. In turn, a thematic way of writing involves focusing on a central theme or idea, exploring its various aspects through structured analysis and evidence, and connecting it to broader contexts or implications (Braun & Clarke, 2022). An example of thematic writing is an essay analyzing a particular theme of sacrifice in “The Hunger Games,” discussing how characters’ actions and an overall plot illustrate key sacrifices made for survival and freedom. Finally, to start a thematic essay, people begin with an engaging and interesting introduction that clearly presents a central theme, provides relevant background information, and states their thesis or main argument.

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How to Know

A student can readily identify a thematic essay topic because such a subject boldly pronounces a writing theme but does not hint at any specific point of view. In writing, the primary goal of a topic of a thematic essay is to inform readers of a specific theme rather than a particular approach of an author, which becomes more apparent in an introductory paragraph (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Specifically, a thematic essay topic does not allow students to develop a particular supposition concerning a theme because authors realize there may be multiple points of view concerning a main idea of a theme essay. In turn, to write a thematic essay, people develop a clear and well-formulated thesis statement, support this claim with detailed analysis and evidence related to a specific theme, and organize an entire content into a structured format with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Steps on How to Write a Thematic Essay

Step 1: Preliminary Actions

Defining a Thematic Topic

A particular ability of students to define a topic is dependent on an extent to which they understand essay rubrics and instructions. Basically, once learners receive thematic essay instructions, they should critically read their prompts to ensure they comprehend all demands of writing requirements. Then, writers should use keywords from their instructions to write one or more questions, which represent corresponding expectations of instructors (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). Based on developed questions, students can create a good topic that adequately captures a specific content of possible responses holistically. Moreover, authors must consider the information in given instructions, which establishes a particular leeway they have in a further selection of a topic, for example, choosing a theme not covered in-class readings.

Identifying a Purpose for Writing

A unique procedure of identifying a purpose occurs in two distinct stages: selecting a general goal and defining a specific purpose. Basically, authors may write a thematic essay to achieve two general purposes: explanation and persuasion. In writing, basic expectations of instructors influence a specific choice of a general purpose of a theme essay to a large extent (Laurens, 2018). As such, students should write a thematic essay on a book that deeply explores significant themes, such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, where an author addresses themes of racism, morality, and social justice. After learners pick a general purpose for writing a paper, they should create a specific purpose that shows a particular effect their papers must have on readers. Mostly, writers generate a specific purpose from questions that represent thematic essay instructions. In turn, a nearly determination of a main purpose is crucial because it affects a specific student’s approach to research and word choice during drafting.

Analyzing an Audience

Before writing a thematic essay, students need to determine key characteristics and expectations of readers. Basically, knowledge concerning crucial characteristics and expectations of an intened audience is valuable because writing allows authors to understand a specific interaction between defined characteristics and attitudes toward a topic, a readers’ level of expertise, and an actual significance of misconceptions, which aid in selecting an appropriate presentation approach. For example, a thematic essay in history is a paper that focuses on a specific theme or concept within a historical context, analyzing how this theme has influenced events, societies, or periods and providing evidence to support an entire analysis (Laurens, 2018). Specifically, learners can determine the most effective organization patterns, identify the best evidence, and employ an accepted documentation style. Moreover, students ensure a suitable level of explanation accompanies specialized writing terms that appear in a theme essay.

Generating and Writing Ideas

After learners define a main purpose and comprehend unique needs and traits of a target audience, they begin to develop ideas for an entire content of a thematic essay. Mostly, theme essay assignments for writing a particular subject focus on topics lecturers discuss in classrooms and other course readings (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Consequently, students may generate ideas through brainstorming based on the relevant information from a single unit and other related units they encounter during their schooling. During brainstorming, writers engage in idea mapping and clustering, which enables them to keep track of relationships between ideas.

Step 2: Establishing a Foundation for Writing

Searching for Sources

Author’s initial ideas regarding a topic act as a starting point for acquiring credible sources that support and refine those ideas. Basically, contemporary scholars engage in electronic searches to find useful and reliable sources for thematic compositions (Goddard et al., 2022). In this case, students should begin their search on a library’s website, which provides them with material that is reliable for academic writing. Further on, library search engines have complex filter functionalities, which make a particular process of searching for academic sources quite simple. Then, authors turn to open-web searches using Google Scholar or other public search engines that generate a significantly larger number of sources. However, some articles may not be accessible to students. Moreover, a particular burden of determining an overall reliability of sources falls on authors when they use open-web search engines (Naeem et al., 2023). In turn, students rely entirely on keywords or keyword combinations to generate working bibliographies.

Evaluating Sources Before Writing

Working bibliographies undergo an intensive evaluation process to establish whether they meet necessary quality standards for inclusion in writing a college-level thematic essay. For example, a main goal of a thematic essay is to analyze and interpret a central theme within a text or subject, demonstrating its development and significance through structured evidence and coherent argumentation (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). In writing, an evaluation process involves two primary stages: relevance determination and reliability test. During relevance determination, authors should examine each source by using three criteria:

• A level of attention that a specific source gives to a chosen topic.
• A suitability of a source’s sophistication to a particular purpose and audience’s needs.
• An impact of publication date on an actual relevance of its information.

Next, a reliability test investigates five critical writing aspects:

• An origin of a thematic source.
• A level of expertise of authors.
• Biases of a source in a context of existing literature.
• Availability and quality of given evidence supporting source’s claims.
• Objectivity in a presentation of author’s claims and handling of evidence.

Writing a Thematic Annotated Bibliography

At this point, a revised working bibliography now contains fewer sources that are relevant and reliable. In particular, students should engage in critical reading of all sources in a working bibliography to identify useful pieces of information they may incorporate into a theme essay. After reading each source, learners write an annotation that contains a summary of a source, ideas for using this source, and an assessment of this source (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Besides the three main elements of an annotated bibliography entry, writers may choose to mention specific pieces of evidence, which are the most significant contributions of a source to a thematic essay. Typically, they develop an annotated bibliography from notes they make as they read through a text.

Developing an Outline

Based on an annotated bibliography, students create an essay outline. Basically, a particular content of an annotated bibliography entry allows learners to develop relationships between sources, which is essential because such a paper begins to shape an essay structure. In this case, writers identify and group sources that support a general point, which splits a body of a thematic essay into discernible sections (Laurens, 2018). Then, authors break down each general point into specific points that can exist as a body paragraph and assign appropriate sources to individual body paragraphs. Furthermore, scholars logically organize particular points and establish some form of flow within each section of a body paragraph. In turn, they document an overall organization of general and specific ideas and a distribution of evidence in a list, like a format that allows for easy identification of hierarchy.

Step 3: Writing a Thematic Essay

Designing a Working Thesis

A student develops a working thesis statement, which presents his or her central claim. For example, to write a thesis for a thematic essay, people clearly state a central theme and outline main points they will discuss to demonstrate how this topic is developed and its significance (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). Basically, questions that writers derive from assignment instructions and specific minor arguments listed in a thematic essay outline are main pieces of information they use to generate a thesis statement. Initially, writing a working thesis statement may appear as a simple combination of individual responses to assignment questions in a context of given information that forms an outline (Laurens, 2018). However, authors must unite individual answers under a specific inference that demonstrates a real significance of writing a thematic essay. Besides, a working thesis statement undergoes multiple revisions, which occur randomly during a writing process. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a thematic essay are:

• In [text/work], [author/creator] vividly explores a specific topic of [topic], revealing how this theme shapes unique characters’ actions and an overall narrative through … .
• A profound theme of [theme] is central to [text/work], as [author/creator] uses various literary devices to highlight its significance and impact on an entire plot, including … .
• After reading [text/work], it becomes clear that [theme] is not only a recurring motif but also a driving force behind characters’ developments and an unfolding of events, particularly through … .
• Throughout [text/work], a particular exploration of [theme] is paramount, with [author/creator] skillfully using [specific elements, such as symbolism or imagery] to underscore its importance in … .
• A unique theme of [theme] is clearly covered in [text/work], as [author/creator] employs [literary techniques] to examine its various dimensions and its influence on … .
• By focusing on a theme of [theme] in [text/work], [author/creator] provides a deep and complex analysis of [specific aspect], shedding light on its broader implications for … .
• A pervasive presence of [topic] in [text/work] is evident from an outset, with [author/creator] using [specific examples] to illustrate how this theme permeates an overall narrative and affects characters’ journeys … .
• In [text/work], an interesting topic of [theme] is explored through a complex approach, where [author/creator] implements [specific elements], offering a comprehensive understanding of its role and significance … .
• An intricate depiction of [topic] in [text/work] serves as a valid foundation for [author/creator]’s exploration of [specific aspect], highlighting how this theme influences a story’s progression and characters’ experiences … .
• Through a lens of [theme], [author/creator] in [text/work] shows a complex use of [specific elements], providing readers with a deeper appreciation of its impact and underlying messages conveyed … .

Reviewing an Outline

Once an author writes a working thesis statement, a person subjects an informal outline to a revision that results in a particular creation of a formal outline for a thematic essay. Basically, body paragraphs of a thematic essay are building blocks for a central claim. Consequently, learners must review an informal outline to ensure there is an apparent logical build-up to the inference, which they announce in a written thesis statement (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). During this review, students focus on a standard organization of minor arguments to ensure body paragraphs contain a single minor idea while maintaining a rational relationship with other body paragraphs. Moreover, writing a formal outline contains a systematic arrangement where information with the same level of significance or roles has identical indentation or numbering.

Selecting Correct Sources for Writing

Based on writing a formal outline, students make a final assessment of sources for each body paragraph. In particular, a formal outline contains some changes in its organization and the framing of minor arguments of a thematic essay (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). As such, these changes may affect the relevance of sources to each body paragraph’s argument. Then, a subdivision or merging of minor arguments may cause some sources to become inadequate because they do not extensively cover new minor ideas. Therefore, writers should check an overall suitability of each source to arguments it supports to ensure each source provides strong, relevant, and accurate evidence before commencing a drafting process.

Drafting a Thematic Paper

During a drafting stage, authors expand a thematic outline into a complete paper by changing statements and brief notes into coherent paragraphs. Basically, there is no fixed approach to drafting a thematic essay because students may start writing at any point by using a formal outline (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Nonetheless, it is an excellent practice for learners to begin drafting from a paragraph they understand the best because such a strategy ensures they waste very little time trying to overcome a particular fear of creating a first draft. In turn, scholars should allocate adequate time for drafting.

How to Improve

Self-Critic

After completing a first draft, students undertake a self-conducted revision process, which involves rethinking and rewriting. Basically, such a process of revision focuses on a particular evaluation of the evidence and organization of body paragraphs to ensure they support a working thesis statement entirely (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). Further on, learners revisit a working thesis statement to refine its wording and a central claim it presents. Before starting a revision process, writers should take a break, which allows a human brain to reset and attain a higher level of objectivity while revising. In writing, a thematic statement is a unique sentence that expresses a central theme or underlying message of a text, summarizing an author’s main insight or viewpoint on a subject (Laurens, 2018). Moreover, scholars should use a checklist to reduce a risk of overlooking various crucial theme essay dynamics during individual revision.

Peer Review

An individual revision process identifies apparent flaws in content presentation, but numerous flaws may go unnoticed due to authors’ subconscious biases concerning their writing styles. As a result, students should subject their thematic essays to a peer review by a classmate, tutor, parent, or writing center staff (Laurens, 2018). In this case, learners should select a peer reviewer that best represents a member of the target audience. Moreover, authors may provide peer reviewers with a checklist to guide them through a revision process, especially if a person is not an expert editor. Then, students should assign adequate time to a peer review process to allow reviewers to carry out a revision task comfortably. In turn, once writers receive feedback from peer reviewers, they consider comments when making a final revision of a paper.

Clarity and Effectiveness

A first consideration in a editing process is an overall clarity and effectiveness of sentences in a thematic essay. Basically, authors should edit each sentence to ensure statements convey an intended meaning to readers. In this case, it is advisable to focus on six clarity issues, which are the most common in writing theme papers: lack of parallelism, dangling modifiers, vague references to pronouns, incomplete sentences, and incorrect separation of sentences (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Besides clarity, learners should evaluate a particular efficacy of each statement separately and as part of a paragraph. In turn, an entire effectiveness of writing statements revolves around a smoothness of transitions, conciseness, variability in sentence structure and length, a distinctiveness of an author’s voice, and emphasis on core ideas.

Surface Errors

A subsequent stage of an editing process involves editing for thematic surface and documentation errors. In particular, students should strive to eliminate all surface errors because they divert a reader’s attention to meaning, although some writing errors do not necessarily change an actual meaning of sentences. For example, learners can edit surface errors by using six-item criteria: spelling errors, comma splices, sentence fragments, verb errors, punctuation errors, and pronoun errors (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). Moreover, students should not attempt to conduct clarity and effectiveness editing simultaneously with surface error editing, which may result in poor writing because of an extensive nature of rules governing the English language. In turn, the final step in editing a thematic essay is a correction of any documentation errors while referring to an appropriate style manual, such as APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard.

Outline Template

I. Introduction

A. Hook sentence. B. Background information. C. Thematic thesis statement.

A. First body paragraph

1. A single idea for writing a first thematic paragraph. 2. Evidence supporting this paragraph’s claim. 3. Interpretation and analysis of evidence.

• First specific deduction from evidence.
• Second specific deduction from evidence.

4. A concluding statement that demonstrates a specific link between a first paragraph’s claim and a central thesis statement.

B. Second body paragraph

1. A single idea for writing a second thematic paragraph. 2. Evidence supporting this paragraph’s claim. 3. Interpretation and analysis of evidence.

4. A concluding statement that demonstrates a specific link between a second paragraph’s claim and a central thesis statement.

C. Third body paragraph

1. A single idea for writing a third thematic paragraph. 2. Evidence supporting this paragraph’s claim. 3. Interpretation and analysis of evidence.

4. A concluding statement that demonstrates a specific link between a third paragraph’s claim and a central thesis statement.

III. Conclusion

A. Restatement of a central thesis statement written in a thematic essay. B. Summary of three minor arguments mentioned in body paragraphs. C. Closing remarks emphasizing an actual significance of a central claim in a unique context of three minor arguments.

Commentary on a Thematic Outline Template

Identifying a Central Theme

Any audience can determine a central theme of a thematic essay from a thesis statement or an overview of topic statements. Basically, writing a well-composed thesis statement must explicitly mention a central theme or implicitly hint at a central theme. Alternatively, an audience can read through topic sentences and correctly speculate a central theme of a thematic essay because minor arguments in individual body paragraphs are building blocks of a thesis statement (Laurens, 2018). However, a reader’s ability to identify a central theme from a formal outline is dependent on their pre-existing knowledge concerning a topic because an outline uses statements and annotations with little explanation.

A thematic essay stands out from other types of essays because of a high level of freedom writers enjoy during authorship. During a writing process of a theme essay, authors can choose any purpose or a combination of purposes to use in different sections of 5 parts of an essay, which is a luxury that argumentative and expository papers do not extend to writers (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). Further on, essay instructions for writing a thematic essay tend to define a broad scope for research, which implies authors may develop a wide variety of arguments. In turn, an expansive nature of a subject of a paper is not present for argumentative essays, which forces students to choose one of the two sides of a controversial issue.

Introduction

An introduction section is a first part of a thematic essay, which consists of three main elements: hook, background information, and thesis statement. For example, a hook is a first statement of any paper that plays a crucial role in capturing an audience’s attention through creative wording, which gives them a reason to read an entire paper (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Since students know how to write a hook, they provide the essential background information that readers require to understand a thesis statement. Moreover, the background information element does not have a fixed length. Instead, it is dependent on a complexity of a thesis statement and an overall length of a thematic essay. As a result, writing a thematic thesis statement is a final item of an introductory paragraph. In turn, a standard length of introductions is approximately 10% of an essay’s word count.

Body Paragraphs

Topic Sentence

A topic sentence contains a minor claim that an author discusses within a paragraph. For example, its primary role is to establish content boundaries, which ensures students focus on a particular idea in each paragraph (Laurens, 2018). Moreover, a topic statement should present a minor argument and mention a relation that such a sentence has to a central idea of writing a thematic essay or make a tacit suggestion of its link to a main thesis. Therefore, writers should avoid a particular use of in-text citations in a topic statement because it implies an idea is not original.

After a topic sentence, students unveil the evidence that supports their claims. In college writing, an in-text citation should accompany any evidence learners introduce into a thematic essay to direct readers to its origin (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). Moreover, learners should rely heavily on summary and paraphrasing in their writing, as opposed to direct quotations from sources. Nevertheless, some theme essay instructions may specify a particular technique writers must use when integrating evidence into a paper.

This element of a paragraph structure allows authors to explain an actual significance of the evidence to a paragraph’s argument. In this section of a thematic essay, students provide an interpretation of the evidence, which informs a target audience of a real meaning of the evidence in a particular context of a source text (Laurens, 2018). Then, they explain an actual value of the evidence in developing a reasonable justification for a single idea proposed in topic sentences. In turn, learners should avoid a particular inclusion of lengthy pieces of evidence because it creates a situation where a specific voice of sources is more dominant than an author’s voice.

Concluding Statement

A concluding statement emphasizes a logical relationship that exists between a topic sentence, evidence, evaluation, and thesis statement. In some cases, such s sentence may establish a specific relationship of a paragraph with a preceding paragraph (Campbell & Latimer, 2023). As such, students should ensure a concluding sentence of a paragraph does not contain a meaningless summary of key pieces of evidence. Then, a concluding statement of a thematic essay must not contain any new evidence because there is no opportunity to explain a particular contribution of the evidence in supporting a paragraph’s argument.

A concluding paragraph has three critical features: a restatement of a main claim, a summary of minor arguments, and closing remarks. Basically, an opening statement of a thematic essay reminds students of a central argument by using new words and syntax (Kirszner & Mandell, 2024). After an opening statement, learners summarize minor claims that appear in individual body paragraphs while maintaining a logical organization, which is identical to a particular arrangement of ideas in a body. Further on, authors write a strong closing statement that knits together an introduction, thesis statement, and minor claims to create a lasting impression on a target audience (Laurens, 2018). Moreover, students should ensure they do not introduce new evidence or arguments in a concluding paragraph. In turn, authors must not apologize for a lack of expertise on a topic or make absolute claims because it diminishes an overall efficacy of writing a good conclusion.

Thematic Essay Example

Topic: Recruitment of Terrorists

Terrorism is a global problem, which appears to be spreading despite an increment in the efforts to suppress its growth. Basically, a prevention of recruitment is a crucial counterterrorism strategy. Moreover, its efficacy is dependent on the understanding of key terrorists’ recruitment techniques. In turn, terrorist groups’ recruitment methods focus on a target’s identity crisis, which puts a potential member at risk of falling for an ‘appeal’ of terrorism.

An individual’s desire to be part of a movement that is effecting a radical change in society is a significant motivator for participation in terrorism. For example, recent studies show that terrorist groups begin conversations with most young recruits on social media platforms, which discuss topics concerning social, political, and economic oppression (Weisburd et al., 2022). Basically, this finding suggests young people in contemporary society have a desire to correct the ‘wrongs’ in society as a means of identity. Consequently, terrorists use an increased sensitivity to social injustices as a common ground to initiate and build a relationship with a prospective recruit. In turn, a youth’s strong desire to do something to stop social injustices that their respective governments ignore leaves them vulnerable to radicalization by terrorist groups.

Religious Beliefs

Fanatical religious belief may drive an individual to support or participate in terrorism for a sake of being part of a group. According to Alakoc et al. (2021), a constant pressure from religious parents causes a blind indoctrination of adolescents and young adults, which enables recruiters from terrorist groups to present religious concepts as justifications for terrorism, for example, the holy war. In this case, a mosque is an ideal site for a particular recruitment of terrorism because of a presence of youth with highly impressionable minds. Moreover, youths depend on teachings at places of worship for knowledge that defines their perspective of the world. As a result, terrorist recruiters disguised as spiritual leaders can easily nurture fanatical beliefs that endorse terrorist activities. Eventually, a feeling of separation from conservative believers pushes them to pursue groups that share their fanatical religious beliefs.

A loss of a family member to counterterrorism activities may act as a motivation factor for grievers who are trying to re-establish their identities because they no longer fit into traditional social structures. For example, Binder and Kenyon (2022) argue that recruiters prey on a particular pain of grieving family members by offering them retribution as a solution to an overwhelming feeling of incompleteness and using Internet platforms to achieve this objective. After a particular death of a family member, emotional turmoil increases an overall susceptibility of individuals to an idea that terrorist acts are an appropriate response to the ‘killers’ of their loved ones. Often, recruitment occurs during this unstable state and encourages an individual to relive a pain each day, which results in a permanent erosion of their former identity. Accordingly, grievers may find themselves as sympathizers of terrorism, which leads to active or passive participation.

Most members of terrorist organizations experience an identity crisis at the time of recruitment. Basically, a particular need to gain membership to a group that fights against social injustices tolerates fanatical religious beliefs or seeks revenge for a death of loved ones is a sign that identity crisis is a common characteristic in recruits. In turn, current counterterrorism initiatives should seek to break a cycle of recruitment, which will weaken terrorist groups.

List of References

Alakoc, B. P., Werner, S., & Widmeier, M. (2021). Violent and nonviolent strategies of terrorist organizations: How do mixed strategies influence terrorist recruitment and lethality? Studies in Conflict & Terrorism , 46 (12), 2598–2621. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610x.2021.1935706

Binder, J. F., & Kenyon, J. (2022). Terrorism and the Internet: How dangerous is online radicalization? Frontiers in Psychology , 13 , 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.997390

Weisburd, D., Wolfowicz, M., Hasisi, B., Paolucci, M., & Andrighetto, G. (2022). What is the best approach for preventing recruitment to terrorism? Findings from ABM experiments in social and situational prevention. Criminology & Public Policy , 21 (2), 461–485. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12579

What to Include

Common Mistakes

• Lack of a Clear Thesis: Failing to present a clear, well-formulated, and concise thesis statement that outlines a main argument of a thematic essay.
• Biased Analysis: Providing a shallow analysis that does not cover a specific theme deeply or its implications.
• Ignoring a Theme: Straying from a central theme and including irrelevant information or tangents.
• Weak Evidence: Using insufficient or weak evidence to support claims, leading to a lack of credibility.
• Poor Organization: Lacking a coherent structure, making a thematic essay difficult to follow and understand.
• Repetition: Repeating same points or ideas without adding new insights or depth to an entire analysis.
• Grammar and Spelling Errors: Neglecting to proofread, resulting in numerous grammatical and spelling mistakes that undermine a paper’s quality.
• Inconsistent Tone: Shifting between formal and informal language, which disrupts a composition’s cohesiveness.
• Neglecting a Conclusion: Failing to provide a strong and logical conclusion that summarizes key points and reinforces a central thesis.
• Overgeneralization: Making broad, unsupported statements that do not accurately reflect a unique complexity of a chosen theme.

A thematic essay involves a structured approach to analyzing a central theme in a given text, requiring clear and coherent argumentation supported by evidence. Basically, its writing process includes several key steps: introducing a specific theme with a compelling hook and background information, formulating a precise thesis statement, and developing body paragraphs that provide detailed evidence and analysis supporting a central argument. Moreover, each paragraph should start with a topic sentence, include supporting evidence, and end with a concluding statement that ties back to a main thesis. In writing, a conclusion should restate a central thesis, summarize key points, and highlight broader implications of a chosen theme. Additionally, it is crucial to undergo thorough editing and peer review to ensure clarity, coherence, and correctness. Finally, common pitfalls to avoid include weak thesis statements, lack of organization, poor transitions, insufficient evidence, and unclear analysis. As a result, this structured writing approach helps to produce a well-organized and insightful thematic essay. In turn, some key takeaways to remember include:

• Students should define a narrow writing topic to guide them in generating ideas in response to a thematic paper prompt.
• Key characteristics and expectations of an intended audience are vital in determining an appropriate presentation approach.
• Before drafting a thematic essay, authors must write a formal outline and annotated bibliography, which are critical for organization and evidence selection.
• A particular maintenance of a high level of fluidity during drafting is critical because it allows writers to experiment with different styles of expression.
• Revision and editing are aspects of a writing process a student should not take lightly.
• All body paragraphs must adhere to a four-element paragraph structure.
• A conclusion paragraph of a thematic essay should not contain any new evidence or arguments.
• Learners must write a thesis statement that captures a specific theme instructors highlight in essay prompts.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Toward good practice in thematic analysis: Avoiding common problems and be(com)ing a knowing researcher. International Journal of Transgender Health , 24 (1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2022.2129597

Campbell, K. H., & Latimer, K. (2023). Beyond the five-paragraph essay . Routledge.

Goddard, Y. L., Ammirante, L., & Jin, N. (2022). A thematic review of current literature examining evidence-based practices and inclusion. Education Sciences , 13 (1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13010038

Kirszner, L. G., & Mandell, S. R. (2024). Patterns for college writing: A rhetorical reader and guide . Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Laurens, A. (2018). How to theme: Understanding and analysing the connection between theme and story for writers and students . Inkprint Press.

Naeem, M., Ozuem, W., Howell, K., & Ranfagni, S. (2023). A step-by-step process of thematic analysis to develop a conceptual model in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods , 22 , 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231205789

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Home ➔ How to Write an Essay ➔ Thematic Essay

Thematic Essay Guide

Thematic writing is a staple of high school English and college writing courses. The idea behind thematic writing is to create a piece that uses a theme to tie together different ideas or topics. Thematic writing can be used for essays, short stories, novels, and even non-fiction pieces. In academic writing, thematic essays often center on a specific issue or theme and develop that theme throughout the essay.

Thematic essays are often assigned in high school English classes and college writing courses. They are also found on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT.

If you need to refresh your memory regarding general essay writing, check our detailed guide: How to Write an Essay

There are a few different literary devices that are often used in thematic writing. These devices can help create a more cohesive essay or story and can also help emphasize the theme.

One literary device that is often used in thematic writing is symbolism. Symbolism is when an object, person, or place represents something else. For example, in the novel The Great Gatsby, the character Daisy Buchanan symbolizes wealth and shallowness. In the story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the black box that is used for the lottery represents tradition and the blind following of rules.

Definition and Purpose

A thematic essay is an essay that requires you to write about a particular question or theme. Thematic essays are often written in response to prompts that ask you to discuss a specific aspect of a larger topic.

The main point of a thematic essay is to show the development of a theme throughout a work of literature or to compare the way different authors or works deal with similar themes.

Essentials of a thematic essay:

• must be focused on a central theme
• must develop that theme with specific examples from the text(s)
• must synthesize several elements of the text(s), including plot, character, setting, style, tone, etc.
• must not be a mere plot summary
• must use evidence from the text(s) to support your argument
• must be well organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion

If you want to learn more about essays in general, we suggest you read this guide: Essay Definition

Pre-writing stage

Before you write a thematic essay, it is important first to understand the prompt and Rubric . The prompt will ask you to write about a specific theme, such as “Justice in Othello.” The Rubric will outline the specific requirements for the essay, including things like length, formatting, and the inclusion of outside sources.

So, before writing a thematic essay, you should carefully read the prompt and think about what you want to write about. Make sure that you understand what the prompt is asking you to do.

Some tips for pre-writing:

• Brainstorm possible themes or ideas that could be related to the prompt.
• Choose a central theme or idea you are interested in and think you can write about persuasively.
• Come up with specific examples from the text(s) that you can use to support your argument.
• Make a list of the different ways that the overall significance of the theme or idea can be developed.
• Decide on the main point you want to make about the theme or idea.
• Organize your thoughts and develop a thesis statement.

Analyzing the prompt and developing a thesis statement

To write a thematic essay, you need to analyze the prompt first. You will need to identify the task that the prompt is asking you to do, and you will need to identify the main idea of the passage.

For example, a prompt might ask you to write about the use of symbols in a work of literature. To answer this prompt, you would need to identify the different ways that symbols are used in the text. You also need to determine what the author is trying to communicate using symbols.

Literary theme analysis prompt example ( TKAM ):

How does Harper Lee use the symbol of the mockingbird to explore the theme of innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird?

When analyzing this prompt, consider what the mockingbird symbolizes in the novel and how this relates to the larger theme of innocence. You might discuss specific characters who embody innocence, such as Scout or Atticus, and how the events of the novel impact them. You might also discuss the impact of innocence on the town of Maycomb as a whole.

One example of how Harper Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird to explore the theme of innocence is through the character of Scout. Scout is a young girl who is innocent and naive in many ways. She does not understand the prejudice and hatred that exists in her community. However, she can also see the good in people, even when they are not perfect. The mockingbird symbolizes this innocence.

Your thesis statement can look something like this:

The symbol of the mockingbird in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is used to represent the innocence of characters like Scout and Atticus, as well as the innocence of the town of Maycomb as a whole.

Other examples of thematic essay topics:

• The Catcher in the Rye: How does J.D. Salinger use the character of Holden Caulfield to explore the theme of teenage angst and rebellion?
• Heart of Darkness: How does Joseph Conrad use the character of Kurtz to explore the theme of colonialism and its effects on the human psyche?
• All Summer in a Day: How does Ray Bradbury use the character of Margot to explore the theme of bullying and its effects on victims?
• The Great Gatsby: How does F. Scott Fitzgerald use the character of Daisy Buchanan to explore the theme of the American Dream?
• Metamorphosis: How does Franz Kafka use the character of Gregor Samsa to explore the theme of alienation?

Outlining your thematic essay

After you have analyzed the prompt and developed a thesis statement, you can begin to outline your essay .

Thematic essays usually have a standard structure and consist of five paragraphs. That typically requires you to include an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Each body paragraph should discuss a different aspect of your thesis. For example, if you need to write a thematic essay about the use of symbols in a work of literature, you might discuss how symbols represent different themes in the novel.

Your thematic essay outline might look something like this:

Introduction:

• Provide a brief overview of the work of literature you will be discussing
• Introduce the main idea or central theme that you will be discussing
• Thesis: The symbol of the mockingbird in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is used to represent the innocence of characters like Scout and Atticus, as well as the innocence of the town of Maycomb as a whole.

Body Paragraph 1: Symbols representing innocence

• The mockingbird symbolizes Scout’s innocence
• The mockingbird symbolizes Atticus’ innocence
• The mockingbird symbolizes the innocence of Maycomb

Body Paragraph 2: The loss of innocence

• Scout loses her innocence when she witnesses the trial
• Atticus loses his innocence when Mr. Ewell attacks him
• Maycomb loses its innocence when Tom Robinson is convicted

Body Paragraph 3: The importance of innocence

• Innocence is important because it allows people to see the good in others
• Innocence is important because it allows people to hope for a better future
• Innocence is important because it allows people to see the world in a more positive light

Conclusion:

• Restate your thesis statement
• Discuss the larger implications of your thesis statement
• Leave the reader with something to think about

You can also dedicate each body paragraph to one specific character or one specific event in the novel.

For example, you might discuss how Scout’s innocence is represented by the mockingbird symbol and how this innocence is lost when she witnesses the trial. In your second body paragraph, you could discuss how Atticus’ innocence is represented by the mockingbird symbol and how this innocence is lost when he is attacked by Mr. Ewell. In your third body paragraph, you might discuss how the innocence of Maycomb is represented by the mockingbird symbol and how this innocence is lost when Tom Robinson is convicted.

Writing the thematic essay

Once you have developed a clear thesis statement and created a thematic essay outline, you can begin writing. We complement each section with a thematic essay example part to better illustrate how it can look.

Introduction

The introduction of your thematic essay should briefly state what you will be discussing in your paper and provide background information. The introduction should also include your thesis statement, which is the main argument of your paper, at the end.

At the very start, you can also use a hook to grab the reader’s attention . A hook is usually a sentence or two that draws the reader in and piques their interest.

Introduction example of a thematic essay:

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This quote, spoken by Atticus Finch, perfectly encapsulates the symbol of the mockingbird in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel about the loss of innocence. The symbol of the mockingbird is used to represent the innocence of characters like Scout and Atticus, as well as the innocence of the town of Maycomb as a whole. The loss of innocence is an important theme in the novel, and it is represented in the characters of Scout, Atticus, and Maycomb.

Body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should each be dedicated to one specific character or event in the novel and start with a topic sentence . After the topic sentence, you should use evidence to support it. You must analyze the evidence, not just merely state it. Lastly, end your body paragraph with a conclusion and transition to the next section.

A thematic essay body paragraph example:

One example of the loss of innocence is Scout. When the novel begins, Scout is an innocent child who does not understand the ways of the world. “‘Don’t you ever do that again,’ I said. ‘Don’t you ever do that again, it’s bad enough having Jem tell on me without you adding to it.’” (Lee 9). Scout is chastised by her father, Atticus, for fighting with her cousin, Francis. In this quote, Scout does not understand why fighting is bad and must be scolded by Atticus. However, by the end of the novel, Scout has learned the true evil that exists in the world and has lost her innocence. “It was then that I finally understood Mrs. Dubose’s courage, not because she had won, but because she had had the courage to fight and the strength to lose.” (Lee 281). Scout has come to understand that even though Mrs. Dubose lost her battle with addiction, she was still brave for fighting it. Mrs. Dubose’s courage has taught Scout that even in the face of defeat, there is still hope. Scout has lost her innocence because she has learned that the world is not a perfect place and that people are not always good.

Check our citation guide to learn more about using quotes in essay: How to Introduce a Quote

Your concluding statement should sum up the main points of your thematic essay and rephrase your thesis (restate it in different words). You can also discuss broader implications or give your opinion on the topic, but don’t add any new information.

A conclusion example of a thematic essay:

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about innocence—the loss of it, the destruction of it, and the fight to keep it. The characters of Scout, Atticus, and Maycomb all represent different aspects of innocence, and the novel explores how they each deal with the loss of their innocence. Scout loses innocence when she learns that the world is not perfect and people are not always good. Atticus loses his innocence when he realizes that sometimes the justice system does not work as it should. Maycomb loses its innocence when it is revealed that racism and prejudice are alive and well in the town. The loss of innocence is a sad but inevitable part of life, and To Kill a Mockingbird shows us that this loss can sometimes be for the better.

Final tips on thematic essay writing

Now that you know the main steps involved in the writing process of a decent thematic essay, here are some of the final tips and key takeaways that you should keep in mind when doing this task:

• Make sure to brainstorm first and develop a good thesis statement that will guide the rest of your essay.
• Create a thematic essay outline before starting to write the essay itself. This will help you stay on track and not miss any important points that you want to include.
• Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the paragraph’s main point.
• Use concrete and specific examples to support your points.
• Pay attention to your grammar and spelling.
• Make sure to conclude your thematic essay in a strong way that ties everything together.
• Analyze the work, not just summarize it.
• Take your time, and don’t rush the essay.
• And lastly, proofread your work before submitting it.

By following these tips, you should be able to write a thematic essay that will impress your teacher or professor.

• Solano Community College – World Literature
• Jefferson State Community College – Literary Theme Analysis

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How to Write a Theme Essay

Last Updated: January 4, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 209,866 times.

Starting the Essay

• For example, an essay prompt may ask you to reflect on the theme of good versus evil in John Steinbeck's East of Eden .

• Make a list of everything you know about the topic. This can be information you learned in class, as well as information you found on your own.
• Write down keywords or key scenes in the text that respond to the essay prompt. Think about what words or scenes from the text come to mind when you think of a specific theme.
• For example, when you brainstorm ideas on East of Eden , you may write down any moments in the text that seem to speak to the theme of good and evil.

• Your thesis statement will need to address the theme, your primary example or examples, and the stance you will take on the topic.
• For example, your thesis might be: "In East of Eden , John Steinbeck rejects the Biblical idea of good and evil and instead focuses on the contradictions and complications found in good and evil."

• Introduction: Discuss landscape as metaphor, include thesis statement.
• Body: Describe mountains in opening scene, elaborate on how they symbolize good vs. evil, state how characters live between the mountains, showing how people are caught between good and evil.
• Conclusion: Restate thesis statement, return to landscape as metaphor.

Writing Your Essay

• Questions can make fun hooks for the reader. Ask a rhetorical question that relates to the theme of the essay, such as "How does one decide what is good and what is evil?"
• You can also use a quote from the text as the hook. Find a quote in the text that explores the themes and ideas you'll be discussing in your essay.

• For example, you may introduce the role of nature plays in the text to discuss the theme of good and evil. The first sentence of your body paragraph should discuss the role of nature. This will set up the paragraph and let the reader know what the focus of the paragraph will be.

• For example, you may discuss the use of nature in the text in one paragraph. The body of the paragraph should then use quotes and scenes in the text to support this idea.
• You might write,"The descriptions of the Gabilan Mountains in the text symbolize good and evil. The characters in the story live in the Salinas Valley, trapped in a gray area between these two extremes."

• Ask yourself, "What do I want my readers to have learned through this essay?"
• Remind readers about the essay's theme. Reference some of the arguments you made in the body of your essay, reinforcing how they support your original point.

Revising Your Essay

• Check that there are transitions between paragraphs. Look at the beginning of each paragraph to make sure they all flow well together.

• Print out your paper and proofread it. Oftentimes, errors are easier to catch on paper. If you can't print out your paper, try changing the size or type of the font. Anything that alters how the work looked when you wrote it can help alert you to errors. [13] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

• Be open to constructive feedback from friends and peers. This will only improve the essay and ensure it is at its best when you turn it in.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/write-essay-theme-book-2200.html
• ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essay-outline/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hook/
• ↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/conclusion
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/steps_for_revising.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/proofreading_suggestions.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

When writing a theme essay, you’ll need to explore a given theme in the text you’re studying. Before you start your essay, brainstorm some notes about your theme, which you can then build your essay from. For example, if you have the theme of good and evil, think about which characters are mostly good or evil, any good or evil actions they take, description that uses light and darkness, and any religious context. In your intro, state your thesis, which should summarize your essay’s main argument. Then, choose 4 or 5 examples of your theme and write a paragraph exploring each one. Make sure you support your points with quotes from the text. In your conclusion, link your ideas back to your thesis statement. For more tips from our English co-author, including how to revise your essay to polish it up, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Student Opinion

100-Plus Writing Prompts to Explore Common Themes in Literature and Life

By The Learning Network

• Jan. 31, 2019

Update, Feb. 15, 2019: Learn more about how to use our 1000s of writing prompts by watching our free on-demand webinar: “ Give Them Something to Write About: Teach Across the Curriculum With New York Times-Inspired Daily Prompts. ”

Every day since 2009 we’ve been asking students a question inspired by an article, essay, video or feature in The New York Times.

Periodically, we sort those questions into lists to make finding what you need easier, like these previous lists of prompts for personal or narrative writing and for argumentative writing , or like this monster list of more than 1,000 prompts , all categorized by subject.

This time, however, we’re making a list to help your students more easily connect the literature they’re reading to the world around them — and to help teachers find great works of nonfiction that can echo common literary themes.

Below, we’ve chosen the best prompts — those that ask the most relevant questions and link to the richest Times materials — from our Student Opinion collection that address every stage of life, from coming-of-age and wrestling with one’s identity to understanding one’s role in a family; making friends; getting an education; falling in love; working; and experiencing old age. We hope they can provide jumping-off points for discussion and writing, and inspiration for further reading.

Most teachers know that our Student Opinion questions are free and outside The Times’s digital subscription service, but what you may not realize is that if you access the Times articles we link to from those questions via our site, the articles are also free. So in this list we hope we’re not just suggesting 100-plus interesting questions, we hope we’ve also helped you find 100-plus great works of nonfiction that can speak to the literature your students are reading.

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The theme of a story is a message that the author is trying to express. The author does not explicitly state the theme. To discover the theme, the reader must make some deductions concerning events in the story.

Identifying the theme of a story can be challenging. Fortunately, as with all reading skills, practice makes perfect. These theme worksheets will help students achieve mastery of this essential reading skill. I recommend starting with the theme PowerPoint lesson posted below. Also, you may be interested in my advice on teaching theme .

I hope that these theme resources help students meet learning goals.

Theme Common Core State Standards

188 comments.

Thank you so much for all these resources. I find them very useful when it comes to teaching my students.

Genevieve G

I love your site. Thank you for the free resources to use with my students. I really appreciate you providing them.

Thank you! during my winter break I have been reading your worksheet and powerpoint which will help me when I return. I am a beginners teacher. ELA/ICR teacher. Again thank you. Just what I needed.

editha galo

Thank you very much, you relly of big help to us

And – to add – this is an awesome resource. Thank you so much for sharing it!

How do you find the students’ results? Not sure where to find report if there is one? Thanks!!

They have to send them to you. I will look into the Classroom API again soon, but last I checked, I couldn’t do what you and I both want it to do.

Stephanie Hampton

I really appreciate having a resource like this! It makes lesson-planning so much easier, especially when you can edit the resources to differentiate for students. Thank you so much for all of this!

The useful website

Lily (Student)

I love this site because it tells you everything we need. I think this is a pretty neat website, thank you.

Hi, I was wondering could you send me a full sample essay about the theme so I could get a better understanding of it. Thank you.

Quintrell Williams

fourth grade Time for themessage Key-theme

Analie S. Canete

Thank you so much for helping me be ready to teach my students. It’s a big help that makes my work easier and more effective! God Bless!

Thank you for the blessings!

Alan Chacon

could you please provide an answer key to these lessons because I can’t tell if I am correct with my inferences. I understand how to identify them a little better, but if I knew I was correct it would help me and maybe some others with how they should think and if they are in the correct mindset It would help them indulge in positive reinforcement please read this and consider others learning process in your decision.

There are answer keys. Click the links that say “View Answers” underneath the assignment sheets.

mariecel reynes

the objective of my lesson is to explain how the elements build its theme, would you mind to please provide me materials for the evaluation of my lesson.tnx much

I loved these passages and powerpoint! I used them for my fourth grade class and they were right on target for their level. Thank you!

I want to express my gratitude to you for providing these wonderful resources-free of charge! I love visiting your site.

In our lessons we are studying the difference between moral and the theme but in your pdf s it kinda says that there are the same thing. so what is the difference between them. Thank you 🙂

They are similar, but a moral is usually explicitly stated, where a thematic statement is implied.

Antonio Soto

at first i thought this would be a bad website, but now i stand corrected this site has helped me and my classmate with numerous amounts of classwork and homework

Mourad Romdhani

A very helpful course for both student and teacher. Thank you very much for such high quality lessons.

Thank you very much for the great resources. I’ve been engaged with searching for such materials very long! and they are helpful for me and my class at school. And thank you for the great website!!

Nick Muzekari

I will be teaching an online short story class this summer for the first time. I’m new to this and so am looking for material to help myself and the students. I believe I will get paid for teaching the class so I am asking permission to use EReading materials since I really love them and want to use them in the class. May I have permission?

hi Mr.Morton. i am having trouble on a theme packet that my teacher assigned me for homework . i do not understand what a theme is. can you help me??????

Theme is the message of a story, the lesson that the author intends to impart through his or her story. So, read the story and ask yourself, is there a lesson to be learned here? Put that lesson into words, and you can say that you have found a theme in the story. Best wishes!

Jennifer Reed

After reading the comments, they struck home for me. My colleagues and I are always discussing the definition of theme. For me, I think it is fair to differentiate for the student between universal and literary theme.

I make sure to talk to students about the definition of Universal Theme, one word, and the literary theme described here. Sometimes my at-risk students have to zero in on the one word before they can get to the generalization. If not, I end up with a main idea or plot summary instead.

I hope this helps, or adds to the discussion.

Great contribution. Thank you.

Denise Ramos

I appreciate these lessons and the guidance you provide! I am a beginning teacher, and I feel frazzled at times about how to put things, but your resources are very helpful. I was wondering, how did you become so good at creating lessons? Were there any books that helped you? Or was it time and practice that helped you organize your plans and lessons so well?

I like to think that I have a way of getting to the point. I can’t recommend any books or resources that helped me out in any significant way. I can only point to the amazing teachers who inspired me and helped me grow. I’ve worked at some pretty messed up schools, but no matter how bad things were at times, there were always amazing people doing amazing things. I will never be the superb disciplinarian that Mrs. Smith, Mr. Dillard, or Mr. Tang were, but I’ve taken a little piece of them with me. I will never be as organized or as motivating as Mr. Phoenix was with his students, but I carry a little piece of him with me.

Find the teachers that inspire you. Fight to observe them. Take what you can.

That’s pretty much the best advice that I can give you about that topic.

Thank you for visiting my site and posing such an interesting question.

Best wishes!

I, too, love this site and appreciate the information and activities. It is so helpful… I was wondering if you could add some expository writing activities.

Like these expository writing prompts or did you have something different in mind?

Karen Schonewise

THANKS so much. This site is great. I almost lost it on a student today who was trying to tell me theme was one word after I have spent a month teaching these juniors in high school that it is a sentence!!! This site is awesome!!

Ha ha. It’s funny you say that. I’ve gone back and forth with terminally educated adults about this. I think a Common Core ELA glossary (like the one that they have for mathematics) would go a long way in resolving this debate. I also think that the word motif better fits the “a theme is one word” thing. Anyway, thanks for visiting the site and taking the time to comment. Best wishes!

You are the best. I am at a loss of words oh how to express my gratitude to you and this website that you have created. AWESOME-RIFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the word that you invented. Thank you for visiting.

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Things Fall Apart Theme Essay

2019, Things Fall Apart Theme Essay

Here's one of the essays I wrote in 10th grade... Just doing giveaways for mono Help me grow on this bihhhhhhhh....

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Cha Nyawira

The last time I wrote a journal as a class activity, I got very excited to hand it in. My expectations were on an all-time high. I felt that I had done my best and would attain the best score so far. On the previous day, I decided to attend a discussion with classmates on journaling. One of the group members was particularly knowledgeable in the topic and shared her tactics with us. Previously, my attempts at journaling proved futile. Somehow, I could not complete the reflective writing process, yet writing was not the problem. I had excelled in other types of writing, but could not get a grasp of journaling. I enjoy interacting with authors' ideas and using them to shape my own understanding of a topic. It feels like eating a sandwich, where the layers are new worlds of understanding that I haven't crossed to yet. After understanding the content and integrating it into any previous knowledge I had, I can then form my personal viewpoints and pour them out on paper. I pride in excellent critical thinking and sustenance of a flowing logical argument. So, what could have been the problem with reflective writing? During this eventful discussion, I took courage and decided to lead the group through a reflective piece. We painted and event and pondered upon it as if it had happened to each of us. After that, we described the event reflectively with each member taking turns to give an opinion through the reflective writing process. However, my plan failed to cross through all points, leaving out the bits of self-awareness and critique. I felt that describing the event in one's own perspective, questioning the circumstances around which it occurred, speculating, and understanding was a complete cycle (Kadarisman, 2017). Although I know that critiquing and self-awareness are part of the journaling process in theory, they seemed not to apply in practice (McNaughton, 2016). Hence, the reason for journaling for me was to pour my heart out in

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Chinua Achebe’s seminal work, Things Fall Apart, has been widely analysed through the framework of postcolonialism, psychoanalysis and feminism but not much research has been carried out on how the fear of the unknown, that is risk, guides the lives of the characters in this novel. For example, the actions of the novel's protagonist, Okonkwo, are mostly dictated by the fear of effeminacy and the possibility of him turning out to be like his father. I want to argue that these are forms of risk: lifestyle, political and interpersonal risk. Ulrich Beck and Deborah Lupton’s concepts of risk see risk as the anticipation of negative or undesirable outcomes or catastrophe. These definitions of risk may help in understanding the actions of the principal characters of Things Fall Apart better. For this paper, Things Fall Apart will be considered as a “risk narrative,” that is, the manner in which risk, fear and catastrophe play out in the novel will be examined, as the novel fictionalizes risk scenarios such as interpersonal, life-style and political risk. In the same vein, the effect of risk on the subjectivity of Okonkwo and other characters in the novel will be discussed. Similarly, the fictional character, Okonkwo’s fear of the unknown as prompted by the coming of the Europeans to Umuofia will be examined using Beck’s concept of the World Risk Society. In the process, I'll examine Things Fall Apart in this new lights and show how the novel can help us articulate the idea of risk.

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