Alongside character and plot, theme is one of your story’s most essential elements when crafting fiction. A clear theme serves as a unifying thread, binding together the various strands of your narrative. Each character may embark on their own unique journey, yet the theme offers cohesion, giving your story depth and resonance.
Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or screenplay, themes often revolve around universal ideas that speak to shared human experiences. This universality helps connect your readers to your work, making it more impactful. Think of the theme as a golden thread running through your story, seamlessly linking all its elements. The ideas discussed here reflect some of the lessons I learned during a University of Cambridge course, 'Building Your Screenplay' - but they apply equally to fiction!
Examples of Common Themes
Here are some enduring themes that frequently appear in literature and film:
- Love
- Death
- Grief
- Power
- Betrayal
- Choices
- Revenge
- Fear
- Jealousy
- Displacement
- Good versus Evil
- Injustice
Identifying Your Theme
Pinning down your theme is a crucial step in the creative process. Here are three ways to clarify your theme:
- Summarise your theme in a single word: For instance, love, fear, or betrayal.
- Pose your theme as a question: For example, "Why do good people make bad choices?" or "How can trust be rebuilt after betrayal?"
- Frame your theme as a statement or aphorism: Examples include, “Good always triumphs over evil in the end” or “Growth isn’t possible without mistakes.”
Crystallising your theme in one of these ways helps you tap into universal truths and forge a deeper connection with your readers.
Exploring Thematic Types
Philip Parker, author of The Art and Science of Screenwriting, identifies some key thematic categories that can help guide your work:
- Desire for justice
- Pursuit of love
- Individual morality
- Desire for order
- Pursuit of pleasure
- Fear of death
- Fear of the unknown
- Desire for validation
Reflecting on these categories might inspire you to articulate the central idea underpinning your story.
Questions to Refine Your Theme
To further develop your theme, consider the following questions:
- What is the major theme in your story?
- How does this theme resonate with universal human experiences?
- What is your personal connection to the theme?
- How does the theme reflect your own beliefs and values?
The Role of Personal Beliefs
Dara Marks, a leading script consultant, emphasises that a writer’s personal beliefs often underpin their chosen theme. This connection infuses your work with authenticity and individuality. According to Marks:
"Theme is based on what a writer believes and believes in. This is the writer's unique voice, a distinctive point of view, and, above all, what is personally valued. Therefore, personal beliefs form the cornerstone of a theme, and it is from the theme then that a writer can come to understand the true intention of his or her story."
Your theme is your voice. It reflects your personal perspective and values, giving your story a unique and compelling dimension.
Why Theme Matters
A well-defined theme lays the foundation for your narrative, shaping your protagonist’s journey and giving purpose to their actions. It ensures your story has a consistent emotional and intellectual core, resonating deeply with your audience. As you craft your fiction, remember that your theme is not just an idea – it is the heart of your story.