Advice for writing themes into the story without hitting the reader over the head with them

[Finchbearer]

I found all three American modern classics I cited enjoyable and easy to understand, but we do have literature over here that I would also consider to be modern classics that maybe could also be looked at. To Kill a Mockingbird would be my favourite, although Steinbeck was masterful IMO with his writing, but I preferred the Grapes of Wrath over Of Mice and Men.

Out of curiosity, the British authored books studied at GCSE level are Lord of the Flies, An Inspector Calls, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice or Emma and Frankenstein. I didn’t study any of them while at school.

 

[Prince of Spires]

Shakespeare was voted Man of the Millenium for a reason.

I didn't know that he was. But considering everything that happened last millenium, and all the great people who featured in it, then I can think of plenty of better candidates.

Regardless of that, the main point of the argument wasn't the hightlighted part, but rather the part where it's a terrible way to get kids to read. Plenty of teachers probably get handed a curriculum where they get told what to teach and which works to focus on. But if you force kids in their formative years to read boring and difficult works, then you might teach one or two to appreciate literature, and you'll teach the rest of the class that reading is terrible and boring and you should stay as far away from it as possible.

 

[Jackarandajam]

I don’t know if kids still have these choices but when I was at school it was Shakespeare (whether you liked it or not!) and a choice of To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye or Of Mice and Men, which made total sense given our proud British American heritage…

LOVE of Mice and Men. It's like a little pocketbook on writer soft skills. You can read it in a sitting and it's a case study in so many things; colorful side characters that don't take over reader interest, antags and protags that are both clearly victims of circumstance and their own psychology, the thumping beat of mounting suspense, perfect foreshadowing that gives the reader exactly as much as the need so they don't understand it until the reveal, a strong and consistent but very specific theme that doesn't jump out until the book is finished...
I can honestly say I didn't realize how much I wanted to be a writer until I read that book (on my own volition) at about 15.

Of course you can add in one or two classics. But this focus on long dead authors just because they make the teacher feel important is a terrible way to make kids enjoy reading. I think you'd get a far better teaching engagement ripping apart Twilight than Moby Dick.

Depends on the grade. An intelligent middle schooler with any natural interest in lit at all should be able to rip apart twilight.

I was homeschooled though, so...

 

[Demesnedenoir]

That Brit list is pretty good, though I don't know An Inspector Calls at all, though I admit to limited knowledge of theater. Also, a rather entertaining group of works without being too dense.

I found all three American modern classics I cited enjoyable and easy to understand, but we do have literature over here that I would also consider to be modern classics that maybe could also be looked at. To Kill a Mockingbird would be my favourite, although Steinbeck was masterful IMO with his writing, but I preferred the Grapes of Wrath over Of Mice and Men.

Out of curiosity, the British authored books studied at GCSE level are Lord of the Flies, An Inspector Calls, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice or Emma and Frankenstein. I didn’t study any of them while at school.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

I think you'd get a far better teaching engagement ripping apart Twilight than Moby Dick.

I don't wanna pay for the book to rip it apart, but if I get a copy for free, let the pages fly! Stupid twinkling vampires anyhow.

 

[gineraay]

So what is some advice for doing this well? My favorite books/movies are the ones that you can think about on a deeper level a week after experiencing it and it still makes you reflect on it. I want my stories to be silly goofy adventures with dragons and magic, but also dealing with depression, love, and finding hope in a dark world.

Ayn Rand and a few others distinguished between subject and theme. Subject is what you story's about, so goofy adventures with dragons and magic. Theme is what it means, what do you have to say or prove about the human condition. Others have said that the climax is a final test of your theme.

So Pride and Prejudice is a romance about middle class women and marriage in Regency England. It's theme is "Mutual understanding and respect is the basis for a good marriage." It's not stated, but Austen compares and tests other relationships to Elizabeth and Darcy and finds them wanting. The climax affirms the theme, he asks to marry her for a second time and she happily agrees, they have achieved mutual respect and understanding.

The good news is that theme emerges from your story, a writer cannot help but insert their view of humanity in a the story using their character and plot choices, settings and so on. Themes also don't have to life shattering revelations about humanity to be a good story. They can be cliche and dull like Star Wars.

In my case, I wrote a first draft without a theme in mind, and in the first revisions, the themes were there. They came built-in, I just need to polish and refine them.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

The key to well done themes that aren't 'beating you over the head' is to be subtle with them. However it's important to know the difference between subtle and hidden. Case in point: Undertale.

It's a game that's...honestly pretty blatant about it's themes, but the extra subtlety from the consequences of your actions if you 'stay the course' (and giving you agency to choose said course) really drives the point home.

I won't claim to know the perfect way to do this in writing, but I do enjoy it when the themes are present but not overbearing which seems to be what you're going for.

 

[Karlin]

LOVE of Mice and Men. It's like a little pocketbook on writer soft skills. You can read it in a sitting and it's a case study in so many things; colorful side characters that don't take over reader interest, antags and protags that are both clearly victims of circumstance and their own psychology, the thumping beat of mounting suspense, perfect foreshadowing that gives the reader exactly as much as the need so they don't understand it until the reveal, a strong and consistent but very specific theme that doesn't jump out until the book is finished...
I can honestly say I didn't realize how much I wanted to be a writer until I read that book (on my own volition) at about 15.


Depends on the grade. An intelligent middle schooler with any natural interest in lit at all should be able to rip apart twilight.

I was homeschooled though, so...

Of Mice and Men is totally astounding. I should read it yet again.

 

[The Dark One]

Of Mice and Men is totally astounding. I should read it yet again.

Did you ever read the sequel?

Of Cats and Bears... extremely violent and rightly banned in most countries.