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Conflict and Theme

Theme, or the relationship between a text and the human experience, is often revealed through a tension or conflict between two forces in a work of fiction. Basically, six types of conflict dominate the world of fiction:

 Human beings in conflict with nature  Human beings in conflict with one another  Human beings in conflict with themselves  Human beings in conflict with society or the law  Human beings in conflict with fate  Two universal forces in conflict (good and evil, passion and reason, vengeance and compassion, etc.)

Often fictional texts involve more than one of these conflicts. Just as in real life, conflict in a work of imaginative literature can teach us truths about what it means to be human. If a reader can determine at least one of the conflicts that a work contains, he or she can often find in it the means to uncover a universal theme.

Below are definitions of terminology commonly used when discussing theme. Many students confuse thematic ideas with thematic statements. Consistency will help students clarify the concepts dealing with theme. The major idea that students need to come to understand is that theme (which is an abstract idea) is created/revealed through the conflict (which is concrete— what do the characters experience in the text?). When we discuss and write about theme, we are examining the ways that every element of the text is linked to the insight about life that the work reveals.

Definition of Terms:  Conflict: the tension or struggle between forces

 Specific Thematic Idea: an abstract idea (can be expressed in one or two words )the author explores through the plot and characters. See the list of thematic ideas.

 Thematic statement: a complete, declarative statement that reveals what the author is trying to communicate about the human experience through his/her literary work. One way to explain this to students is to ask the question: “What does this piece of literature have to say about (the thematic idea).

Determining Conflicts and Universal Theme Statement (Example) As you can see by the chart, the major events of the plot remind us of the conflicts, and identifying one important conflict suggests a thematic idea from which a thematic statement can be developed. CONCRETE ABSTRACT Title Major Events List of Conflicts One Important Specific Thematic Statement Conflict Thematic Idea (complete sentence) (word or phrase) “Ozymandias” The speaker human beings in human beings the power of In his poem “Ozymandias,” Percy recounts a conflict with in conflict with nature Shelley explores the arrogance of the conversation with nature nature ancient ruler Ozymandias in someone who has opposition to nature, revealing that. seen the ruin of a human beings in despite the power that man accrues monumental conflict with throughout his life, it will never be statue in “an themselves enough to outlast or defeat the power ancient land.” of nature, which is eternal and invincible. The pedestal of the statue bears the boastful words of the ancient king Ozymandias, and the statue itself shows him to have been a cruel, arrogant ruler.

Example: From “Ozymandias”

Conflict: human beings in conflict with nature

Specific Thematic Idea: the power of nature

Thematic statement: Despite the power that man accrues throughout his life, it will never be enough to outlast or defeat the power of nature, which is eternal and invincible Copyright © 2012 Laying the Foundation®, Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.ltftraining.org. 2 Student Resource—Conflict and Theme

Applying Your Knowledge of Conflict and Theme Choose a work of fiction or a poem that you have studied in class and, using the chart, follow these steps:  List the major events or significant quotations.  Identify the conflicts stemming from those major events.  Choose one conflict.  Write a specific thematic idea (word or phrase) linked to the conflict.  Write a thematic statement.

CONCRETE ABSTRACT Title Major Events List of Conflicts One Important Specific Thematic Thematic Statement Conflict Idea (complete sentence) (word or phrase)

Conflict:

Specific thematic idea:

Thematic statement: