Literature notes-S2-Chap II

CLASS: SENIOR TWO

        COURSE CONTENTS

UNIT I: KEY ASPECTS OF PROSE
UNIT II: SUBJECT, THEMES AND MESSAGES
UNIT III: LITERARY DEVICES AND AUDIENCE
UNIT IV: BALLADS
UNIT V: POETIC DEVICES
UNIT VI: SUBJECT, THEME AND CONTEXT
UNIT VII: DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES
UNIT VIII: SUBJECT MATTER, THEME AND MESSAGE
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UNIT II: SUBJECT, THEMES AND MESSAGES

         II.1. A SUBJECT

A subject is a topic which acts as a foundation for a literary work/story. It is the subject which makes a writer writes something. It is what something is about. Subject is the inspiration that makes you write anything.

         II.2. A THEME

A theme can be explained as follow:

-A theme is an opinion expressed on the subject.
-It is what a poet is saying about a certain subject.
-It is the central/ main idea of the story.
-It is the poet’s opinion or perspective about a certain issue in society.
-It is the controlling idea which is continuously developed throughout the story.

1. Minor theme: It is an idea that appears in a story briefly or an idea that appears once in a while in a story.
2. Major theme: It refers to an idea that a writer repeats in his/her work making it the most significant idea in a literary work.

Themes can be about friendship, love, good vs bad, loneliness, grief,…..

       II.3. A MESSAGE

A message can be explained as follow:

-A message refers to the lesson the writer wishes to convey to the society through his/her story.
-A message is what an author wants the society to learn from his/her literary work.
-It is the kind of a lesson that the reader learns after reading the story.
-It is the moral in the story.
-It is something the story aims to teach the reader.
-It is the lesson the writer wishes the society to learn from his/her poem.

Messages can be about respecting elders, not fighting, caring for your loved ones,…

       TYPES OF THEMES AND MESSAGES

The two types of themes and messages are:
– Hidden
– Fully stated

a. Hidden themes/messages

Hidden themes or messages are the ones which are hidden. They are implied or communicated indirectly or suggested.  To get them, the reader has to use his/her intelligence and analysis. They are also called implicit messages/ themes.

b. Fully stated themes/messages

These are the themes or messages which are stated or communicated directly or clearly. The reader does not have to analyze the poem to find them. They are fully and clearly expressed leaving nothing implied. They are also called explicit messages/themes.