Themes in Popular Literature: What Makes a Great Story Great

There are certain stories that seem to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. We all know them: J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, George Lucas' Star Wars... the stories that not only thrived in their original form, be it book or script, but went on to grow into massive empires spanning novels, movies, figurines, games, and so much more. These are the stories that grab at something deep within each of us and hang on. But what makes those stories so popular? I went on a massive study spree, breaking down the various plots to see what they had in common, and to my surprise, there were many traits that jumped out. I've chosen the ten main ones and broken them down here for anyone who may have at one point wondered just what made great stories great.

1. The main character(s) is a child.

A plot that will never lose its allure is that of growth, whether that's a child or adolescent becoming an adult or an adult growing in maturity. The most popular stories are about characters who have not yet found their place in the world. They have not discovered just who they are, and the plot follows them on that path of discovery.

2. The main character has a legacy - a special trait beyond his or her control, - a special skill, and/or unique knowledge.

For Harry Potter, it's magic. For Luke Skywalker, it's the Force. For Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, it's their destined place as Kings and Queens of Narnia. Every person wants to believe that there is something special about them, something that sets them apart from all other people. We have all had those daydreams: delivering that perfect speech that gets a standing ovation, making it as a multimillion dollar movie star, or selling chart-topping songs. These stories allow us to step into the main character's shoes and experience those dreams of grandeur for ourselves.

3. The story occurs away from parental influence or child is an orphan.

This follows the theme of growing up. The story would not be half so interesting if the main character's actions were all dictated by his or her parents or guardians. What makes a good story so interesting is seeing the consequences of the character's actions, be they good or bad. The stories follow the character setting out on their own and exploring the world for themselves.

4. The main character has a mentor or protector.

While parental influence would be detrimental to the plot, the presence of a protector or guide can only help the plot along. Albus Dumbledore, Obi Wan Kenobi, and the great lion Aslan all played immense parts in ensuring their charges' safety. While the ultimate victories come from the main character's actions, those victories could not have occurred without the wisdom and guidance of their mentors.

5. The mentor is unrelated to the main character.

This follows from the theme that everyone wants to feel special and unique. If the mentor was related to the main character, say an uncle or grandparent, their support of the main character might very well stem from familial duty rather than any kind of genuine liking for the character. If the mentor is unrelated, it means that he or she values the main character for simply being him- or herself.

6. The mentor is powerful or skilled and is important and well-known.

If someone who is important or powerful takes a deep interest in the main character, then it follows that there must be something truly remarkable about the main character to warrant such attention. It follows on with the 'everyone wants to be special' theme.

7. The main character knows better than the adults.

If the main character, a child, knows things that the adults do not, this can be a convenient way to add some conflict to the plot. The main character must continue on his or her quest to do what he or she knows is right despite anything the adults may do to stand in the way. It is a nice way to justify rebelling against authority and put the main character in the right at the same time.

8. The main character is proved right.

The moment of truth! While not necessarily in the spirit of good sportsmanship, there is no feeling quite like being able to say, 'I told you so.' It is a victory all in and of itself when the main character can show all those who had previously doubted his or her actions that he or she was in the right all along.

9. The villain fears the main character.

This is the flip-side of the mentor valuing the main character simply for being him- or herself. The mentor sees something within the main character that is valuable, while the villain sees something to be feared. Each of these reinforces that the main character, who truly believes that he or she is 'nobody special,' is someone important in the grand scheme of things.

10. The villain is irredeemable.

While lesser villains may be painted in shades of gray, such as Darth Vader of Star Wars, the ultimate villain is not someone who can be redeemed, like the infamous Emperor Palpatine or the Dark Side of the Force itself. In real life, it is rare or impossible to find something that is purely good or purely evil. Part of a story that appeals to a wide audience is the knowledge that there is a villain, and he or she must be defeated so that good may triumph. Simplistic? Yes, but it is an idea that has retained its popularity through time.

While not a complete list by any means, and not true for all stories, these are the main concepts that I have seen again and again in popular novels. After reading this, I'm sure that you will start noticing these themes yourself, and perhaps you will come across some new ones to add to the list. Maybe you will be the one to write the next great novel. If so, I certainly look forward to reading it.