The previous posters covered the concept with regards to this specific short story, so I will discuss in general. Subject matter is what the story is about. Plot can fall under this category, as can motifs (ideas or concepts which are present throughout a work of literature). Motifs are often confused with themes today, even in academia. However, a theme is a universal message about life or human nature implied by a text. One way to distinguish between theme & subject matter is to first ask "What is this piece about?" Then you will know the subject matter. For example, in "The Masque of the Red Death", we have a story about a devastating plague, & its effects on a seemingly immune group. Once you have determined this, ask yourself, "What does this text say about the subject matter?" Then you will know the theme. Again, in "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe is suggesting that we as humans cannot escape our ultimate fate. A good way to judge if you're accurately stating theme is to make sure it's always a complete sentence. Otherwise, it cannot be a theme.
No comments:
Post a Comment