To Theme or Not To Theme in Fiction

We’ve all experienced a high school teacher or college professor expounding on a given story’s “theme.” Those with a sense of the bigger picture can more easily parse a novel-length story into its theme(s) than the rest of us. Occasionally debates break out regarding the central theme of a novel or whether a novel is “literary” only if there’s a clear and well-supported theme on which all elements of the story hang. I subscribe to the theory that while a story can be built around a theme, it does not have to be, and that themes, whether intended or not by the writer, are revealed by the eye and mind of the reader.

Structured Theme

A theme is an excellent starting point for brainstorming a new story. It shapes the story from the start, helping us winnow down our choices. As our outline or organic story progresses, the theme is again a great guide to eliminate choices and give the story a clear path to travel along, much like adding bumpers on a bowling lane. Adding conflict to a story can also be made easier by juxtaposing opposing themes within our story elements such as structure, metaphor, and major plot points for greater overall weight, purpose, and meaning. The central theme, sub-themes, and opposing themes if used, can also be reflected in characters and character motivations. The central theme always shines through by the end.

Organic Theme

Whether outlining or discovering the story as it comes off the keyboard or pen, organic themes emerge from simply building a story that makes sense in the end. In this case, we let a story tell itself and then we see what theme our back brains have given us without conscious thought. Or, in some cases, we let our beta reader tell us what the heck we’re writing about. From there, through re-writing, we strengthen and build the central and sub-themes into the story as we flesh it out and re-shape it to reflect those themes.

No Writer-Intended Theme

There’s a lot to be said for relating a great rip-roaring thriller, heart-breaking love story, suspenseful mystery, hair-raising horror tale, or generational epic by focusing on carefully crafting a story in which each scene relates to the previous or next and each element serves the story in a logical, satisfying manner with no overall theme or lesson or moral in mind. Often, but not always, these stories are character-driven. A discernible theme or themes may rise to the top, but the writer does not focus on them and may not even consider them on re-write.

Theme and the Reader

Each of methods above relate to the writer, but the most important factor in a discussion of theme(s) is the reader. Every reader is a snowflake. Every reader brings their own individual experience to a story and relates to the story in their own individual way. There are as many takeaways thematically from every story ever told as there are humans that have ever existed in all of history. Yes, there are “universal” themes and many readers will agree or independently identify the same theme for any given story. Often what we, as a reader, may choose as a story’s central theme will be influenced by teachers, critics, other readers, or the writer’s own comments. But just as often, a reader will identify a different theme or see the story in a new perspective that gives it meaning the writer never intended or critics never saw or overlooked. The story-telling brain has an amazing capacity to hide themes from the writer’s consciousness in ways delightfully discovered by readers in their many snowflake incarnations.

Please share your thoughts on, or your experience with using or not using themes in your stories. Join me on the first Friday of each month for exploration, discovery, and discussion of the writing life