The document discusses the concept of theme in fiction. It states that theme is not the moral of a story and does not offer a moral, but rather suggests a morality. Theme also contains an idea, but cannot be directly stated as an idea. Theme represents the abstracted sum and consequence of all elements in a fiction work. Theme asks what a story is about, but also asks further questions about the underlying ideas and realities portrayed in the story.

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The Elements of Fiction
Theme
Bruce Clary, McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas

2. G-EN270 INTRO TO ICTION
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Theme is not the moral of a story. Theme suggests
a morality, but it offers no moral.

3. G-EN270 INTRO TO ICTION
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Theme is not only the message or meaning of story.
Theme contains an idea but cannot be stated as an
idea.

4. G-EN270 INTRO TO ICTION
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Theme is the abstracted sum and consequence of
all the other elements of fiction.

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Theme asks first, What is the story about? but it
does not stop there.
Theme goes on to ask, What about what it’s about?

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Theme answers the questions, What is the model of
reality portrayed in the story? and What is life like
according to the world presented in the story?

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• What is the model of reality in “The Lottery”? In
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”?
• What is life like according to “The Rocking-
Horse Winner”?
• What is war like according to “The Things They
Carried”?
• What is the transition from boyhood to
manhood like according to “The Man Who Was
Almost a Man”? “A & P”?

8. G-EN270 INTRO TO ICTION
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“A story is a way to say something that can’t be
said any other way, and it takes every word in the
story to say what the meaning is…. When anybody
asks what a story is about, the only proper thing is
to tell him to read the story.”
—Flannery O’Connor