Elements of a Novel: The Theme

While it is true that no book is the same, there is a certain formula that novels follow that can be found in almost all fictional literary work. Novels come with a setting (where & when), plot (what), characters (who), and theme (why).

Theme is hard to pin down when writing a novel. This is because it is something that organically flows from your writing. It is abstract. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the literary term theme is "the subject of a piece of writing." Some people refer to the theme as the moral of the story or the reason for the story.

When developing the theme for your story you should ask yourself "why?" What was your point in writing this novel? What message were you trying to impart to your readers? What was the central idea to the story? It is also important to note that your story can have multiple themes.

So what are some examples of themes? One of the easiest ways to identify themes is to go to fairy tales and children's stories. These stories were written to teach a lesson. In the ant and the grasshopper, we learn the value of saving. In Hansel & Gretel, we learn not to talk to strangers. In the tortoise and the hare, you learn that slow and steady wins the race.

Theme can be a difficult literary element to grasp. Just ask yourself, why do I want to tell this story? What nature of the human condition am I trying to explain to my readers?