A theme is an idea or message that is repeated or developed throughout a literary work. It relates to human nature, the human experience and life in general. Sandhills Community Colleges writes that theme in a narrative "is the main point or points that the viewer draws from the way the characters respond to the obstacles or resolve the conflict." It is not the plot itself, but the concept and message that underlie the plot.
Common themes in literature include the great journey, loss of innocence, the cost of war, the fall from grace, love and friendship, revenge, death and mourning, social justice and rebirth. A narrative often contains more than one theme. For example, Edgar Allen Poe's story "The Telltale Heart" contains the themes revenge, insanity and guilt. The novel "The Lord of the Flies" by William Golding expresses the themes of cruelty, free will, loss of innocence and civilization versus savagery.
Often the theme is not explicitly stated and is only abstractly conveyed through literary devices and plot. To interpret the theme of a narrative you must read the text closely and thoughtfully. Use literary elements such as point of view, setting, symbolism, metaphor, simile, and foreshadowing as clues to identify and understand the theme. An important aspect of a narrative to analyze is the conflicts the characters face, how they resolve them and what this reveals about their values and limitations.
Generally when you are asked to write about literature, you are asked to write about a theme. Before you write an essay about a theme, select one theme to examine and decide what point you will be making about it. This point is your thesis statement. For example, you can write "In the fairy tale 'Beauty and the Beast' the character of the Beast proves that appearances can be deceiving." Provide analysis and textual evidence, in the form of quotations, showing how the theme is manifested in the narrative.