Main Idea vs Theme in Literature: Difference and Comparison

There are numerous ways for writers to show their feelings or thoughts in writing. Some authors use writing to teach audiences a message or raise awareness about a particular question or scenario.

The majority of the time, authors’ narratives are lengthy and complicated. The terms Main Idea and Theme are a part of the writer’s tales and thoughts.

Key Takeaways

1. The main idea conveys the central point of a story or text, while the theme represents the underlying message or lesson.
2. Main ideas are specific to individual stories, whereas themes can be universal, transcending various works of literature.
3. Identifying the main idea helps to understand a story’s plot while recognizing the theme provides insight into the author’s purpose.

Main Idea vs Theme 

The major statement or argument that the author is conveying via their work is referred to as the main idea in literature, and the main idea is unique to the work. The theme is the broader, universal concept or idea that the work examines. The theme is general and can apply to a variety of works.

The main idea in a sentence or a bigger portion of the literature is by far the most essential or key concept that informs the reader about whatever the work is about.

The main idea is frequently expressed as a statement, and it really is the opening paragraph of a tale that explains the storyline involved.

The theme is the core concept or moral of a tale or situation. In other words, a topic is a specific statement an author wishes to express throughout his writings.

It is also possible for a plotline to have two or maybe more themes, like in the case of the plot about empowering women, but it does have the theme of hard work paying off.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Main Idea	Theme
Meaning	The passage’s or statement’s main idea is intimately linked to the passage’s or text’s subject, and it is sometimes specifically explained in the document’s purpose statement.	The thematic notion, as well as thematic assertion, are two types of themes in a writing.
Point of Origination	The main idea originates from the storyline and also the people in the storyline.	The main idea originates from the storyline and also the people in the storyline.
Uniqueness	The main idea of a Storyline is distinct and unique.	There isn’t really unique or distinct when it comes to the storyline.
Found or Expressed	The main idea may or may not be found/expressed in the narrative.	The theme is almost never mentioned and must be deduced from the storyline.
Examples	The purpose statement during the first section, for instance, may include the main idea of a shorter storyline.	The theme, on the other hand, is rarely stated in terms of the storyline. It’s more than just books and paragraphs. It is necessary to read and digest the complete storyline in order to grasp the theme.

What is Main Idea?

The fundamental idea of a paragraph or text is one of the main ideas. It is inextricably linked to the passage’s theme and, in certain situations, expressed explicitly in the text’s subject line.

This is frequently the case when we’re talking about brief pieces of text. Furthermore, the main idea is commonly derived from the storyline and also the story’s components.

Determining the main idea is not challenging; it could be as easy as recognizing the topic of a specific paragraph and the most crucial aspect or incident of a novel section.

Finding the main idea of a tale might be complex at times, mainly if the story is quite long! A story may contain more than just the main idea in various cases.

A few of the easiest methods to discover the main idea is to find out what isn’t the primary idea initially.

The topic of the story, or the core matter, is what it’s all about. For instance, the Harry Potter series might be about ‘witchcraft’ or ‘wizardry.’ However, that’s not the fundamental point; that isn’t the more significant picture notion.

What is Theme?

A theme would be a central focus, matter, or statement in a current literary theory story. Themes are classified into two types: thematic concepts and thematic reports.

A story’s thematic idea is also what readers “believe the piece is all about,” as well as its thematic assertion is “whatever the work implies well about the matter.” 

Themes and venues are frequently distinct. One of the most popular definitions of the theme is a core idea or element in a story that can sometimes be wrapped up in a single phrase.

Conflicts between the people and community; coming of age; people at odds with innovation; nostalgia; and the risks of unrestrained ambitions are classic examples of a similar theme.

Any theme inside a story might be represented through a person’s thoughts, words, or ideas. One instance might be the theme of isolation in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men.

Main Differences Between Main Idea and Theme in Literature

1. The core subject of a text is a theme, the morals or message of a work of literature. From the other end, the main idea is the most significant or central concept of a sentence or larger portion of text that informs the reader about whatever the work is about.
2. One must read the entire background to understand the narrative’s theme (primary issue or moral). The main idea, from the other end, is normally a sentence, as well as it is often the opening statement.
3. The theme is the definite meaning determined by the viewers from the entire context. The most conspicuous statement in the situation is the main idea.
4. The main idea may or may not be found/expressed in the narrative. The theme is almost never mentioned and must be deduced from the storyline.
5. A theme can be a message or an instruction, or it can be a true embodiment. The main idea, on the other hand, is a particular element of contextual information.

References

1. https://www.proquest.com/openview/0942ce3fa46a9f25cbf3f815565cfedd/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/748046