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Contributor: Allison Crews. Lesson ID: 13734
Learn tips for identifying universal themes in literature, and apply your knowledge by matching literary quotations to their themes!
Consider some of the most famous literary quotes you know.
Maybe Shakespeare:
Or Jane Austen:
Keep scrollin' scrollin' scrollin' to find out!
What Are Universal Themes?
Universal themes are generalities or commonalities based on the human condition that can transcend differences in space and time.
They are relatable concepts of human behavior and experience that are applicable to most readers and create opportunities for readers to engage and connect with literature on both a micro (small, personal) and macro (large, universal) level.
Universal themes are ideas based on very broad topics like love, war, and death; however, they hone in on a specific aspect of these ideas.
Here are some examples:
| love conquers all | |
| forbidden love | |
| parental love | |
| grieving a loved one | |
| existential considerations of life and death | |
| facing the horrors of war | |
| fighting for justice | |
| courage against all odds | |
| coming of age |
Connecting Literature to Theme
Step back and consider the big ideas the story is trying to tell.
These things are your biggest clues. Looking at the resolution to the main problem helps you determine what the author wants you to take away from the story.
Consider some of the most well-known works of literature, and try to determine their themes:
So that is how theme and literature work together.
When you're ready, click through to the Got It? section for more guided practice.
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