This video now includes Spanish as well as English subtitles. For a full list of dual-language videos in our series, please see the following site: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/oregon-state-guide-english-literary-terms
2:06 "In other words, it's not a writer's job to answer the difficult questions of the world, but only to point them out clearly with their stories." I couldn't say how much this one sentence is going to improve my current poem.
You have no idea how much I needed this video. In my journey of self-educating myself to accomplish my lifelong dream of writing fantasy, I've watched countless videos telling me it wasn't enough to explore these complex ideas. They told me i had to come up with an answer. But the topics i like writing about are too complex and apply to different people in different situations differently. This video felt like someone uncovered my eyes.
Thanks so much, Jay! This news just makes our day, and we're so happy you found the lesson useful. We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
Literary theme is main idea or underlying meaning writer explores in novel , short story or other literary work . Example of themes in literature love , forgiveness, coming of age , bravery, hardship. There are three types of theme ideational/ topical theme , textual , interpersonal theme . Thank you for your wonderful educational literary channel.
1:19 This phrasing excellently puts into words the issue I have with the show Brooklyn 99: it is basically a kids' show for adults. The characters are all highly eccentric, exaggerated and not credible as real-life people, and every single episode ends with a very clear, unambiguous moral, leaving no room for analysis of the work. Besides the adult oriented motifs and themes, everything about it is in the format of children's television.
Thanks so much for the comment, Kevin! We haven't seen this series, but we tend to agree that much literature and many (but not all) television narratives rarely rises to the level of complexity of Munro's "Boys and Girls." That's what makes her story and other works of comparable quality really stand out amidst so many other, less interesting stories!
If you liked this video, show us some love by dropping us a comment, asking a question, or sharing your favorite examples of themes in the stories you enjoy. Doing so will help to establish this comment section as a rich digital learning environment. Thanks for reading, everybody!
So a theme is what we come to interpret as what the story is about, while a message/moral could be interpreted from the consequences the theme has on it's story?
We would say not exactly. A theme (at least to our way of thinking) is a problem or question that a complex work of literature raises but does not necessarily resolve. In other words, a theme can yield multiple different kinds of interpretations, just as great works of literature can be read in many different ways. A message or moral is similar to a theme (it raises a question), but it doesn't enable us to answer that question in multiple ways. It is a singular message (usually a recommendation for living) that is common in children's stories. Hope that helps!
Am I correct in assuming that in the example given about the little girl on the farm that "gender roles" could be a theme, the question you come up about the theme could be your "thematic question" and your interpretation (based on evidence in the text) to that question becomes your overall "thematic statement"? Is this a valid way to come up with a thematic statement for an essay?
This method of breaking down a theme into its component parts could certainly work, Phil. No matter what phrase you use, it is important to position themes as questions to set your essays up for success. Thanks for keeping the conversation going!
This is a very helpful video. Thank you very much! Although, I just want to ask one thing for clarification. If a theme is preferred to be an exploration of a question and does not necessarily provide answers like morals, does'nt it contradict with the unofficial rule that the protagonist must change or learn something at the end of the story? Like the "misbelief/lie" concept usually used in character development today.
Thanks so much for the comment, Mei! While the protagonist typically changes by the end of the story (the girl in the Munro story "Boys and Girls" certainly does), what that change means--how the change can be interpreted--is very much an open question! While the story may come to an end, then, what the story means--how we can interpret it--is an going process. Phrasing themes as questions can therefore help us as we move from passively reading the story to actively interpreting it. Thanks so much for keeping the conversation going!
@@SWLF Thank you for responding. This made think and really reevaluate my writing knowledge. Your channel is extremely helpful for us asprining writers. I wish you guys the best.
Hi all!. I have a question, which English phrase is correct: "Why you did not use a smaller needle?" / Why did not you use a smaller needle?" .... I know this is another topic, but I will appreciate your help. Thanks all!🤗
I already know that moral and theme are different from one another but never in any of my literature subjects before (I'm English major graduate) taught us that theme could be or more appropriate to phrase in question. We were taught that theme is a statement about the story's main idea that reflects significant human experience (not necessarily a moral one). For example, in the story you mentioned Boys and Girls, if I'm going to phrase the theme in the way I knew I would say the theme of the story is that people's action are being regulated based on their gender. Isn't that acceptable? Or question-theme is more appropriate when phrasing the theme? This video made me question my knowledge in literature. Lol.
Great question, Isle! You certainly don't have to rethink your knowledge of literature completely. Your phrasing of the theme is entirely appropriate, but we think seeing themes as questions is a better approach for the purposes of writing an essay about the story or leading a discussion. A good essay will often frame the main claim (or thesis) as an answer to a question, and that question is often about a theme. In your case, that question might be: "Given the fact that the story shows how people's actions are being regulated by gender, how is it that the protagonist in the story is even able to rebel?" A good essay (or in-class discussion) will often proceed from this question, while a theme as statement will often not. We hope that clears some things up!
@@SWLF I see. I think different phrasings of theme depends on how you use the theme; accepting that as truth and move on (as statement) or invoke further discussion (raising questions). I really appreciate your reply in every comment I tossed in your videos. Your channel deserves more subscribers.
I agree with your approach and that is always how I have approached theme as well, as expressed as universal statement. I see the value of his approach as he replied below as conversation starters, which leads back, in my opinion, to our crafting of theme basically as an opinion or understanding that can be substantiated by the events/details of a text. In the video, he focused the greater idea on gender roles; it could just as easily be maturation; it could be tradition; family relationships, identity and other words exist that could reflect the deeper/bigger picture; and there is clear overlap among all these concepts... If I had to compose a theme based on Boys and Girls [the title is certainly a leading one] it would be: Gender is an imposition refuted by individual impulses [this could be extended to indicate factors of context]. I have not read the novel myself - just crafted that statement based on the information he provided with the interesting symbolic ending of the swinging gate, which immediately hit me as indicative of the fluidity of gendering...
This is a great one! Theme seems to be a term my students have difficulty separating from simply a topic or a subject. Also- I would LOVE to see a video in this series highlighting Aristotle's main arguments concerning catharsis and mimesis
This video now includes Spanish as well as English subtitles. For a full list of dual-language videos in our series, please see the following site: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/oregon-state-guide-english-literary-terms
2:06 "In other words, it's not a writer's job to answer the difficult questions of the world, but only to point them out clearly with their stories."
I couldn't say how much this one sentence is going to improve my current poem.
Awesome! Thanks so much, Chessematics! We're delighted to hear you found the lesson useful for your poetry!
Perfectly cited , keep updating us on these usual yet perplexing topics . Thank you!
Thanks so much for continuing to support the series, Nia!
You have no idea how much I needed this video. In my journey of self-educating myself to accomplish my lifelong dream of writing fantasy, I've watched countless videos telling me it wasn't enough to explore these complex ideas. They told me i had to come up with an answer. But the topics i like writing about are too complex and apply to different people in different situations differently. This video felt like someone uncovered my eyes.
Thanks so much, Jay! This news just makes our day, and we're so happy you found the lesson useful. We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
I hope you're able to fulfill your dream! Keep working hard!
Literary theme is main idea or underlying meaning writer explores in novel , short story or other literary work . Example of themes in literature love , forgiveness, coming of age , bravery, hardship. There are three types of theme ideational/ topical theme , textual , interpersonal theme . Thank you for your wonderful educational literary channel.
1:19 This phrasing excellently puts into words the issue I have with the show Brooklyn 99: it is basically a kids' show for adults. The characters are all highly eccentric, exaggerated and not credible as real-life people, and every single episode ends with a very clear, unambiguous moral, leaving no room for analysis of the work. Besides the adult oriented motifs and themes, everything about it is in the format of children's television.
Thanks so much for the comment, Kevin! We haven't seen this series, but we tend to agree that much literature and many (but not all) television narratives rarely rises to the level of complexity of Munro's "Boys and Girls." That's what makes her story and other works of comparable quality really stand out amidst so many other, less interesting stories!
If you liked this video, show us some love by dropping us a comment, asking a question, or sharing your favorite examples of themes in the stories you enjoy. Doing so will help to establish this comment section as a rich digital learning environment. Thanks for reading, everybody!
Feminism in things fall apart by Achebe
this channel is becoming my no.1 favourite day by day .It is an excellent guide for all literature students.Thanks a lot!!
Thanks so much, Ufaq! We're so happy that the series is being put to good use!
So a theme is what we come to interpret as what the story is about, while a message/moral could be interpreted from the consequences the theme has on it's story?
We would say not exactly. A theme (at least to our way of thinking) is a problem or question that a complex work of literature raises but does not necessarily resolve. In other words, a theme can yield multiple different kinds of interpretations, just as great works of literature can be read in many different ways. A message or moral is similar to a theme (it raises a question), but it doesn't enable us to answer that question in multiple ways. It is a singular message (usually a recommendation for living) that is common in children's stories. Hope that helps!
Thank you for the interesting videos. Really helped an English major like me. Would love to hear more insightful videos from all of you!
Wow, thanks so much Sanggari! We're in the process of editing a new video, so look for it soon!
Love this series... Been conveying the message (:D) of this video to my students for years.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Uriel!
Very well explained, I loved this video, thanks a lot!
Thanks so much, @oscarjosuemoragaquesada3909 ! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
Am I correct in assuming that in the example given about the little girl on the farm that "gender roles" could be a theme, the question you come up about the theme could be your "thematic question" and your interpretation (based on evidence in the text) to that question becomes your overall "thematic statement"? Is this a valid way to come up with a thematic statement for an essay?
This method of breaking down a theme into its component parts could certainly work, Phil. No matter what phrase you use, it is important to position themes as questions to set your essays up for success. Thanks for keeping the conversation going!
this was super helpful to me in writing essays!
Thanks so much, Ashley! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
This is an excellent video! I'm really glad to have stumbled across this channel.
Thanks so much, Jordan! And great work with your film series!
This is a very helpful video. Thank you very much! Although, I just want to ask one thing for clarification. If a theme is preferred to be an exploration of a question and does not necessarily provide answers like morals, does'nt it contradict with the unofficial rule that the protagonist must change or learn something at the end of the story? Like the "misbelief/lie" concept usually used in character development today.
Thanks so much for the comment, Mei! While the protagonist typically changes by the end of the story (the girl in the Munro story "Boys and Girls" certainly does), what that change means--how the change can be interpreted--is very much an open question! While the story may come to an end, then, what the story means--how we can interpret it--is an going process. Phrasing themes as questions can therefore help us as we move from passively reading the story to actively interpreting it.
Thanks so much for keeping the conversation going!
@@SWLF Thank you for responding. This made think and really reevaluate my writing knowledge. Your channel is extremely helpful for us asprining writers. I wish you guys the best.
@@meivee7492 Wow, thanks so much, Mei! This comment made our day!
Thanks for the video.
You're very welcome, Pterodactyl_Bret (great name)! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
Hi all!. I have a question, which English phrase is correct: "Why you did not use a smaller needle?" / Why did not you use a smaller needle?" .... I know this is another topic, but I will appreciate your help. Thanks all!🤗
We'd go with "Why did you not use a smaller needle." Hope that helped!
@@SWLF yes, for sure! Thx a lot!
Thank you very much.
Thanks so much, Christian! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
I already know that moral and theme are different from one another but never in any of my literature subjects before (I'm English major graduate) taught us that theme could be or more appropriate to phrase in question. We were taught that theme is a statement about the story's main idea that reflects significant human experience (not necessarily a moral one). For example, in the story you mentioned Boys and Girls, if I'm going to phrase the theme in the way I knew I would say the theme of the story is that people's action are being regulated based on their gender. Isn't that acceptable? Or question-theme is more appropriate when phrasing the theme? This video made me question my knowledge in literature. Lol.
Great question, Isle! You certainly don't have to rethink your knowledge of literature completely. Your phrasing of the theme is entirely appropriate, but we think seeing themes as questions is a better approach for the purposes of writing an essay about the story or leading a discussion. A good essay will often frame the main claim (or thesis) as an answer to a question, and that question is often about a theme. In your case, that question might be: "Given the fact that the story shows how people's actions are being regulated by gender, how is it that the protagonist in the story is even able to rebel?" A good essay (or in-class discussion) will often proceed from this question, while a theme as statement will often not. We hope that clears some things up!
@@SWLF I see. I think different phrasings of theme depends on how you use the theme; accepting that as truth and move on (as statement) or invoke further discussion (raising questions).
I really appreciate your reply in every comment I tossed in your videos. Your channel deserves more subscribers.
@@isleastron8251 Thanks, Isle! We certainly hope to continue to grow over the next few years!
I agree with your approach and that is always how I have approached theme as well, as expressed as universal statement. I see the value of his approach as he replied below as conversation starters, which leads back, in my opinion, to our crafting of theme basically as an opinion or understanding that can be substantiated by the events/details of a text. In the video, he focused the greater idea on gender roles; it could just as easily be maturation; it could be tradition; family relationships, identity and other words exist that could reflect the deeper/bigger picture; and there is clear overlap among all these concepts... If I had to compose a theme based on Boys and Girls [the title is certainly a leading one] it would be: Gender is an imposition refuted by individual impulses [this could be extended to indicate factors of context]. I have not read the novel myself - just crafted that statement based on the information he provided with the interesting symbolic ending of the swinging gate, which immediately hit me as indicative of the fluidity of gendering...
I understood 😄 liked it 👍
Thanks so much, hemalakshmi!
I have a presentation on this topic, tanx for you guidance
Awesome, Zara! Good luck with that presentation!
Nice video!
Thanks, samuel! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!
@@SWLF yes, for sure!... very useful for my Short Story class. 🤗
Thanks
Thanks so much, Hamza! We truly appreciate your continued support!
This is a great one! Theme seems to be a term my students have difficulty separating from simply a topic or a subject.
Also- I would LOVE to see a video in this series highlighting Aristotle's main arguments concerning catharsis and mimesis
Thanks so much for supporting the series, Mary! We will add some more Aristotle to our list.
this video is epic. thank you.
Ha! Awesome, Bailey--we're happy you liked it. And we'll be putting together another epic video on the epic in the near future!
*Thanks!*
Thanks so much for your continued support, Phil!
🤘
Thanks!
You're welcome, Byron! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!