Theme is an important element of a story after plot, characters, conflict and setting. Either in a work of literature: a short story, novella, novel, or poetry, contains a theme. In a literary work, the theme is an underlying message or idea that the writer wants to convey to the readers.
BBC’s Bitesize video explains themes in literature in the simplest words.
Now, let’s understand what are themes in literature.
Theme is the central topic(s) or idea(s) that run through a text of a literary work helping the author to convey their message or idea.
So, in a story, if an author wants to explore and showcase the meanings of love, death, prejudice, suffering, guilt, or good vs. evil, etc. they will do so by making it the central idea(s) or the theme of their story and conveying it using the elements of a story like characters, plot, setting, and dialogue.
Themes in Literature-
- A theme of a story in the literature relates to what a book is about. It is the central idea of the story, the belief, or the message the writer wants to deliver through the story.
- Themes are the universal ideas presented in a story and there can be one or even multiple themes in a story.
- A literary theme can be identified by examining the recurring symbols, ideas, or motifs that run through a text.
List of 101 Examples of Common Themes in Literature
These 101 common literary or story themes examples are recurring themes in popular works of fiction and have been used as main, major, or minor themes in popular novels.
1. Love
Theme of “love” in literature examples include: Romeo and Juliet, The Fault in Our Stars, Wuthering Heights & The Notebook
Learn More: Theme of Love in Romeo and Juliet/BBC
2. War
Theme of “war or warfare” in literature examples include: War and Peace, For Whom the Bell Tolls, & The Red Badge of Courage
Learn More: Theme of Warfare in War and Peace/Shmoop
3. Revenge
Theme of “revenge” in literature examples include: Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, Hamlet & Frankenstein
Learn More: Theme of Revenge in Mobi Dick/Shmoop
4. Betrayal
Theme of “betrayal” in literature examples include: 1984, The Kite Runner, & The Count of Monte Cristo
Learn More: Theme of Betrayal in The Kite Runner/LitCharts
5. Good vs. Evil
Theme of “good vs. evil” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harry Potter series, & David Copperfield
Learn More: Theme of Good Vs. Evil in To Kill a Mockingbird/YourDictionary
6. Redemption
Theme of “redemption” in literature examples include: Les Miserables, The Kite Runner, & All the Lights We Cannot See
Learn More: Theme of Redemption in A Christmas Carol/BBC
7. Friendship
Theme of “friendship” in literature examples include: Harry Potter Series, The Fault in Our Stars, & The Lord of the Rings
Learn More: Theme of Friendship in Harry Potter/GradeSaver
8. Family
Theme of “family” in literature examples include: Little Woman, Jane Eyre, Anna Karenina & The Hunger Games
Learn More: Theme of Family in Jane Eyre/GradeSaver
9. Death
Theme of “death” in literature examples include: The Fault in Our Stars, The Book Thief, Harry Potter series & Hamlet
Learn More: Theme of Death in Harry Potter/GradeSaver
10. Coming of Age
Theme of “coming of age” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Fault in Our Stars, & The Catcher in the Rye
Learn More: Theme of Coming of Age in The Fault in Our Stars/LitCharts
11. Love and Marriage
Theme of “love and marriage” in literature examples include: Pride and Prejudice, Little Woman, The Great Gatsby & Jane Eyre
Learn More: Theme of Love and Marriage in The Great Gatsby/Sparknotes
12. Forgiveness
Theme of “forgiveness” in literature examples include: The Kite Runner, The Shack, & Jane Eyre
Learn More: Theme of Forgiveness in The Kite Runner/CliffsNotes
13. Identity
Theme of “identity” in literature examples include: Kafka on the Shore, The Bell Jar, Jane Eyre, Neuromancer & The Lightning Thief
Learn More: Theme of Identity in Neuromancera/Course Hero
14. Youth
Theme of “youth” in literature examples include: Romeo and Juliet, The Picture of Dorian Grey, & Death in Venice
Learn More: Theme of Youth in Romeo and Juliet/Course Hero
15. Prejudice
Theme of “prejudice” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, & The Catcher in the Rye
Learn More: Theme of Prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird/LitCharts
16. Justice
Theme of “justice” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Crime and Punishment, The Count of Monte Cristo A Tale of Two Cities & Great Expectations
Learn More: Theme of Justice in Great Expectations/LitCharts
17. Change vs. Tradition
Theme of “change vs. tradition” in literature examples include: Things Fall Apart, & The Joy Luck Club
Learn More: Theme of Change vs. Tradition/Grammarly
18. Power
Theme of “power” in literature examples include: Macbeth, The Lord of the Rings, Animal farm & Lord of the Flies
Learn More: Theme of Power in Lord of the Flies/BBC
19. Individual vs. Society
Theme of “individual vs. society” in literature examples include: 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Romeo and Juliet & The Scarlet Letter
Learn More: Theme of Individual vs. Society in Romeo and Juliet/LitCharts
20. Social Class
Theme of “social class” in literature examples include: Great Expectations, The Help, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre & Pride and Prejudice
Learn More: Theme of Social Class in Jane Eyre/BBC
21. Fate vs. Free Will
Theme of “fate vs. free will” in literature examples include: Romeo and Juliet, Moby Dick, & The Alchemist
Learn More: Theme of Fate vs. Free Will in The Alchemist/Course Hero
22. Courage
Theme of “courage” in literature examples include: The Lord of the Rings, The Book Thief, To Kill a Mockingbird & The Kite Runner
Learn More: Theme of Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird/BBC
23. Rebellion
Theme of “rebellion” in literature examples include: 1984, The Hunger Games, & The Handmaid’s Tale
Learn More: Theme of Rebellion in The Handmaid’s Tale/LitCharts
24. Humility
Theme of “humility” in literature examples include: The Pilgrim’s Progress, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, & Pride and Prejudice
Learn More: Theme of Humility in Harry Potter/GradeSaver
25. Fear
Theme of “fear” in literature examples include: Life of Pi, Lord of the Flies, The Woman in Black & Things Fall Apart
Learn More: Theme of Fear in The Woman in Black/BBC
26. Heroism
Theme of “heroism” in literature examples include: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, & The Hunger Games
Learn More: Theme of Heroism in The Hobbit/LitCharts
27. Violence
Theme of “violence” in literature examples include: Life of Pi, Lord of the Flies, & Things Fall Apart
Learn More: Theme of Violence in Macbeth/The Conversation
28. Hubris
Theme of “hubris” in literature examples include: The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, & Frankenstein
Learn More: Hubris in Literature/YourDictionary
29. Race
Theme of “race” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hate U Give, The Color Purple, & Americanah
Learn More: Theme of Race in The Hate U Give/GradeSaver
30. Money
Theme of “money” in literature examples include: The Great Gatsby, Middlemarch, & Pride and Prejudice
31. Greed
Theme of “greed” in literature examples include: Macbeth, The Hobbit, & The Pearl
Learn More: Theme of Greed in The Hobbit/Course Hero
32. Women and Femininity
Theme of “women and femininity” in literature examples include: Little Woman, The Color Purple, & Jane Eyre
Learn More: Theme of Women and Femininity in The Bluest Eye/LitCharts
33. Oppression
Theme of “oppression” in literature examples include: The Color Purple, The Handmaid’s Tale, & A Thousand Splendid Suns
34. Poverty
Theme of “poverty” in literature examples include: Of Mice and Men, Oliver Twist, The Grapes of Wrath, Little Woman & A Christmas Carol
Learn More: Theme of Poverty in Oliver Twist/Course Hero
35. Sacrifice
Theme of “sacrifice” in literature examples include: The Hunger Games, Harry Potter books series, & A Tale of two cities
Learn More: Theme of Sacrifice in A Tale of Two Cities/LitCharts
36. Survival
Theme of “survival” in literature examples include: The Hunger Games, Life of Pi, & The Road
Learn More: Theme of Survival in Life of Pi/LitCharts
37. Hypocrisy
Theme of “hypocrisy” in literature examples include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Letters, Anna Karenina & The Importance of Being Earnest
Learn More: Theme of Hypocrisy in Anna Karenina/GradeSaver
38. Religion
Theme of “religion” in literature examples include: Life of Pi, Jane Eyre, & The Kite Runner
Learn More: Theme of Religion in Jane Eyre/SparkNotes
39. Science
Theme of “science” in literature examples include: Brave New World, Frankenstein, & Life of Pi
Learn More: Theme of Science in Life of Pi/Shmoop
40. Sin
Theme of “sin” in literature examples include: The Scarlet Letter, Crime and Punishment, & The Picture of Dorian Grey
Learn More: Theme of Sin in The Scarlet Letter/LitCharts
41. Wealth
Theme of “wealth” in literature examples include: The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, & The Grapes of Wrath
Learn More: Theme of Wealth in The Great Gatsby/ThoughtCo
42. Alienation
Theme of “alienation” in literature examples include: Crime and Punishment, The Catcher in the Rye, & Metamorphosis
Learn More: Theme of Alienation in Crime and Punishment/SparkNotes
43. Loss of Innocence
Theme of “innocence” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies & The Little Princess
Learn More: Theme of Loss of Innocence in Lord of the Flies/SparkNotes
44. Sexuality
Theme of “sex and sexuality” in literature examples include: The Catcher in the Rye, The Handmaid’s Tale, & Fear of Flying
Learn More: Theme of Sexuality in The Handmaid’s Tale/GradeSaver
45. Madness
Theme of “madness” in literature examples include: Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dracula & The Catcher in the Rye
Learn More: Theme of Madness in Hamlet/Owlcation
46. Crime
Theme of “crime” in literature examples include: Great Expectations, Crime and Punishment, & The Godfather
Learn More: Theme of Crime in Great Expectations/British Library
47. Deception
Theme of “deception” in literature examples include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Hamlet, American Gods, & Gone Girl
Learn More: Theme of Deception in American Gods/GradeSaver
48. Temptation
Theme of “temptation” in literature examples include: Macbeth, The Lord of the Rings, & The Scarlet Letter
Learn More: Theme of Temptation in Macbeth/GradeSaver
49. Technology
Theme of “technology” in literature examples include: Fahrenheit 451, Do Android Dreams of Sheep, & Neuromancer
Learn More: Theme of Technology in Fahrenheit 451/SparkNotes
50. Ambition
Theme of “ambition” in literature examples include: Little Woman, The Great Gatsby, & Macbeth
Learn More: Theme of Ambition in Macbeth/BBC
51. Suffering
Theme of “suffering” in literature examples include: Crime and Punishment, The Book Thief, & Beloved
Learn More: Theme of Suffering in Crime and Punishment/Course Hero
52. Education
Theme of “education” in literature examples include: Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, & Harry Potter book series
Learn More: Theme of Education in Harry Potter/LitCharts
53. Time
Theme of “time” in literature examples include: To the Lighthouse, Mrs Dalloway, & The Time Machine
Learn More: Theme of Time in To the Lighthouse/GradeSaver
54. Isolation
Theme of “isolation” in literature examples include: The Catcher in the Rye, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Wuthering Heights, & The Scarlet Letter
Learn More: Theme of Isolation in The Catcher in the Rye/Shmoop
55. Moral Corruption
Theme of “moral corruption” in literature examples include: The Great Gatsby, Heart of Darkness, & The Picture of Dorian Grey
56. Loneliness
Theme of “loneliness” in literature examples include: Of Mice and Men, The Catcher in the Rye, Kafka on the Shore & Mrs. Dalloway
Learn More: Theme of Loneliness in Of Mice and Man/BBC
57. American Dream
Theme of “American dream” in literature examples include: The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman, & The Grapes of Wrath
Learn More: Theme of American dream in The Great Gatsby/LitCharts
58. Gender Roles
Theme of “gender roles” in literature examples include: Middlemarch, Things Fall Apart, The Handmaid’s Tale & Romeo and Juliet
Learn More: Theme of Gender Roles in Things Fall Apart/Shmoop
59. Beauty
Theme of “beauty” in literature examples include: The Bluest Eye, The Picture of Dorian Grey, & Jane Eyre
Learn More: Theme of Beauty in The Bluest Eye/LitCharts
60. Freedom
Theme of “freedom” in literature examples include: The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, Brave New World, & The Handmaid’s Tale
Learn More: Theme of Freedom in Brave New World/GradeSaver
61. Gothic Elements
Theme of “gothic elements” in literature examples include: Jane Eyre, Rebecca, & Wuthering Heights
Learn More: Theme of Gothic Elements in Jane Eyre/GradeSaver
62. Storytelling
Theme of “storytelling” in literature examples include: Life of Pi, Beloved, & The House of the Spirits
Learn More: Theme of Storytelling in Life of Pi/GradeSaver
63. Corruption
Theme of “corruption” in literature examples include: Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, & Macbeth
Learn More: Theme of Corruption in Animal Farm/SparkNotes
64. Secrecy
Theme of “secrecy” in literature examples include: A Tale of Two Cities, & The Scarlet Letter, Frankenstein
Learn More: Theme of Secrecy in Frankenstein/SparkNotes
65. Reputation
Theme of “reputation” in literature examples include: The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, & The Scarlet Letter
Learn More: Theme of Reputation in The Crucible/ThoughtCo
66. Memory and the Past
Theme of “memory and the past” in literature examples include: Beloved, The Great Gatsby, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep & 1984
Learn More: Theme of Memory in Beloved/GradeSaver
67. Totalitarianism
Theme of “totalitarianism” in literature examples include: 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, & Animal Farm
Learn More: Theme of Totalitarianism in 1984/ThoughtCo
68. Repression
Theme of “repression” in literature examples include: 1984, Mrs Dalloway, & The Awakening
Learn More: Theme of Repression in Mrs Dalloway/Shmoop
69. Loyalty
Theme of “loyalty” in literature examples include: Of Mice and Men, Harry Potter series, & The Kite Runner
Learn More: Theme of Loyalty in Harry Potter/LitCharts
70. Knowledge vs. Ignorance
Theme of “knowledge vs. ignorance” in literature examples include: Fahrenheit 451, & Flowers for Algernon, Animal Farm
Learn More: Theme of Knowledge Vs. Ignorance in Fahrenheit 451/Writing Explained
71. Manipulation
Theme of “manipulation” in literature examples include: Gone Girl, The Great Gatsby, & The Count of Monte Cristo
Learn More: Theme of Manipulation in Gone Girl/GradeSaver
72. Jealousy
Theme of “jealousy” in literature examples include: The End of Affairs, The Awakening, & Anna Karenina
Learn More: Theme of Jealousy in Anna Karenina/GradeSaver
73. Adultery
Theme of “adultery” in literature examples include: Anna Karenina, The End of Affairs, & Madame Bovary
Learn More: Theme of Adultery/Wikipedia
74. Guilt
Theme of “guilt” in literature examples include: Macbeth, The Scarlet Letter, & The Crucible
Learn More: Theme of Guilt in Macbeth/ThoughtCo
75. Dissatisfaction
Theme of “dissatisfaction” in literature examples include: Fahrenheit 451, The Great Gatsby, & Brave New World
Learn More: Theme of Dissatisfaction in Fahrenheit 451/Shmoop
76. Morality
Theme of “morality” in literature examples include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Learn More: Theme of Morality in Jane Eyre/Shmoop
77. Community
Theme of “community” in literature examples include: The Hate U Give, Beloved, & The Grapes of Wrath
Learn More: Theme of Community in The Hate U Give/GradeSaver
78. Man and the Nature
Theme of “man vs. nature” in literature examples include: Moby Dick, Life of Pi, Lord of the Flies & The Old Man and the Sea
Learn More: Theme of Man vs. Nature in Mobi Dick/LitCharts
79. Civilization
Theme of “civilization” in literature examples include: Lord of the Flies, Heart of Darkness, & Robinson Crusoe
Learn More: Theme of Civilization in Lord of the Flies/LitCharts
80. Circle of Life
Theme of “circle of life” in literature examples include: Where the Red Fern Grows, The Old Man and the Sea & The Lion King
Learn More: Theme of Circle of Life in The Old Man and the Sea/Course Hero
81. Censorship
Theme of “censorship” in literature examples include: Fahrenheit 451, 1984, & Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Learn More: Theme of Censorship in Fahrenheit 451/SparkNotes
82. Appearance vs. Reality
Theme of “appearance vs. reality” in literature examples include: Macbeth, Hamlet, & The Great Gatsby
Learn More: Theme of Appearance vs. Reality in Macbeth/BBC
83. Social Injustice
Theme of “social injustice” in literature examples include: A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, & Les Misérables
Learn More: Theme of Social Injustice in A Christmas Carol/BBC
84. Self-improvement
Theme of “self-improvement” in literature examples include: Great Expectations, & Little Woman
Learn More: Theme of Self-improvement in Little Woman/GradeSaver
85. Perseverance
Theme of “perseverance” in literature examples include: The Old Man and the Sea, The Martian, & The Grapes of Wrath
Learn More: Theme of Perseverance in The Old Man and the Sea/Course Hero
86. Passion vs. Reason
Theme of “passion vs. reason” in literature examples include: Jane Eyre, & The Sun is Also a Star
87. Motherhood
Theme of “motherhood” in literature examples include: Beloved, & The Secret Life of Bees
Learn More: Theme of Motherhood in Beloved/GradeSaver
88. Loss
Theme of “loss” in literature examples include: The Lord of the Rings, & The Little Prince
89. Language and Communication
Theme of “language and communication” in literature examples include: 1984, The Book Thief, & Things Fall Apart
90. Honor
Theme of “honor” in literature examples include: Hamlet, Macbeth, & The Grapes of Wrath
Learn More: Theme of Honor in Hamlet/Owlcation
91. Home and Belonging
Theme of “home and belonging” in literature examples include: Jane Eyre, The House on the Mango Street, & Beloved
Learn More: Theme of Home and Belongings in Jane Eyre/SparkNotes
92. Hate
Theme of “hate” in literature examples include: Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, & Heart of Darkness
93. Grief
Theme of “grief” in literature examples include: Wuthering Heights, Beloved, & The Year of Magical Thinking
Learn More: Theme of Grief in Beloved/GradeSaver
94. Conformity vs. Individuality
Theme of “conformity vs. individuality” in literature examples include: Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, & 1984
Learn More: Theme of Conformity vs. Individuality in Fahrenheit 451/LitCharts
95. Childhood
Theme of “class struggle” in literature examples include: Little Woman, Room, & The Little Prince
96. Faith and Doubt
Theme of “faith and doubt” in literature examples include: Let the Great World Spin, & The Road
97. Hope
Theme of “hope” in literature examples include: The Road, & The Diary of a Young Girl
98. The Supernatural
Theme of ”supernatural” in literature examples include: Macbeth, Harry Potter Series & The Haunting of the Hill House
Learn More: Theme of The Supernatural in Macbeth/BBC
99. Limit of Knowledge
100. Injustice
101. Honesty
Examples of Themes in Literature-
Below are examples of major and minor literary themes that appeared in some of the popular books of all time.
1. Pride and Prejudice Themes
Major Themes- Love and marriage, class, reputation, social status, family.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird Themes
Major Themes- Good vs. evil, coming of age, small town life, prejudice, racism, social inequality, law and justice.
3. The Great Gatsby Themes
Major Themes- American dream, power, society and class, love and marriage.
4. Harry Potter Series Themes
Major Themes- Death, confronting fear, fate, love, friendship, power, rebel, good vs.evil, courage, humility.
5. Romeo and Juliet Themes
Major Themes- Love, fate, youth, violence, death, gender, revenge, marriage, hate.
6. David Copperfield Themes
Major Themes- Good vs. evil, personal development, wealth and class, impartiality in marriage, abuse of the weak.
7. The Lion, the Witches, and the Wardrobe Themes
Minor Themes- Good vs. evil, war, friendship, loyalty, courage, forgiveness, childhood, betrayal, family.
8. War and Peace Themes
Major Themes- Warfare, history, patriotism, forgiveness, spirituality, love, family, man and masculinity.
9. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Themes
Major Themes- Racism, slavery, society, hypocrisy, freedom, superstition, education, empathy, guilt and shame, wealth, honor, religion.
10. Moby Dick Themes
Major Themes- Revenge, limits of knowledge, destiny, religion, nature and man, madness, race, fate and free will.
11. Middlemarch Themes
Major Themes- Marital compatibility, money, community and class, social position, politics, religion, pride and vanity, self discovery.
12. Anna Karenina Themes
Themes- Betrayal, hypocrisy, faith, jealousy, family life, marriage, adultery, imperial Russian society, desire, rural vs city life, society and class, carnal desire, passion, progress.
13. 1984 Themes
Themes- Propaganda, totalitarianism, poverty vs. wealth, independence and identity, Loyalty, technology, class struggle, love and sexuality, liberty and censorship, betrayal, language, manipulation, repression, rebellion, violence.
14. To the Lighthouse Themes
Major Themes- Time, the meaning of life, subjectivity, the nature of art, gender.
15. Wuthering Heights Themes
Major Themes- Love, revenge, class, hate, violence, good and evil, solitude.
16. A Handful of Dust Themes
Major Themes- Love and marriage, adultery, selfishness, money, class and society, morality, satire and realism, religion.
17. Life of Pi Themes
Major Themes- Storytelling, religion, nature, wildlife, survival, truth, faith in god, fear, science.
18. Jane Eyre Themes
Major Themes- Family, religion , social position, class, love and marriage, gender, beauty, independence, feeling vs. judgment, gothic elements.
19. Heart of Darkness Themes
Major Themes- Imperialism, racism, violence, colonialism, exploitation, religion, alienation, moral corruption, loneliness.
20. Mrs. Dalloway Themes
Major Themes- Time, isolation, communication, death, repression, suffering, society and class.
21. Great Expectations Themes
Major Themes- Crime, class, imperialism, injustice, ambition, education, family.
22. The Lord of the Rings Themes
Major Themes- Friendship, fate, good and evil, religion, free will, loss, courage, power, death and immortality, forgiveness.
23. The Catcher in the Rye Themes
Major Themes- Alienation, innocence, phoniness, angst, growing up, death, love, woman and sex, religion, madness.
24. The Faults in our Stars Themes
Major Themes- Love, family, life and death, religion, coming of age, friendship, suffering, literature and writing.
25. The Hungers Game Themes
Major Themes- Friendship, family, class, love, rebellion, starvation, oppression, poverty, self-sacrifice, hypocrisy, appearances, survival, stoicism, loss.
26. Animal Farm Themes
Major Themes- Corruption, totalitarianism, class, control, exploitation, idealism, deception, abuse of power.
27. Little Women Themes
Major Themes- Family, love and marriage, ambition, sacrifice, poverty, literature and language, writing, morality and society, self-improvement, wealth and happiness, gender and femininity, women as artist.
Related: Common Poetry Themes
