Theme and topic are commonly seen in novels or illustrations and support the conveyed main context. Here, in some form or way, the primary subject matter is given meaning to help the reader better understand the context.
Key Takeaways
- A topic is a subject matter or main idea of a piece of writing, conversation, or another form of communication.
- A theme is an underlying message, moral, or lesson throughout a story, narrative, or artistic work, often addressing broader issues or universal human experiences.
- The primary distinction between a topic and a theme is that a topic serves as the focus of a discussion. In contrast, a theme conveys a deeper meaning or insight that transcends the surface-level subject matter.
Theme vs Topic
A theme is an English term used to describe a specific message or insight that is conveyed through the topic and explored throughout a certain work. A topic is an English word used to describe the general subject matter or underlying idea behind a piece of writing or conversation.
A theme is used to describe a lesson or meaning behind a story or an event. These events and written works are entirely based on the theme, and the characters are structured around it.
A topic conveys the central subject matter and lets the reader connect the context of the written work directly to a sentence or a word. It gives a brief idea of the context.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | Theme | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A theme is the main lesson or setting that the whole story or event is based around. | A topic gives an idea of what the context is and what the written work might be about. |
| Purpose | It allows an individual or author to convey a message or impart knowledge by incorporating the theme in the story. | It gives the reader a โbriefโ insight and a basic understanding of the subject matter. |
| Objective view | Considered to be the essence of the story, and at times provides a vague or broad interpretation of the story. | A topic provides more of a clear and more focused view of the subject matter. |
| Example | A storyโs theme can be โhonesty is the best policyโ, or an event can have a โbirthday theme. | Topics can be about specific matters such as โLasers and how they workโ or โWildlife and the animal kingdomโ. |
| Synonyms | The synonyms of theme that relate directly are โ concept, message, thesis, and idea. | The synonyms of related topics are subject matter, discussion, point, and concern. |
What is Theme?
The theme helps individuals understand the background and the setting of the story or event. The theme gives an overall understanding and meaning of the storyโs context.
Every novel or storybook has an underlying theme that gives structure to the story and provides a more in-depth look into the authorโs mind. The article allows users to get a sense of the background behind the story.
The theme allows the author to impart knowledge and lessons through their stories. There might be many hidden meanings in the story, but there is always an underlying theme around which the story revolves.
A theme can be seen in many places other than just written works, such as the theme of a party or an event. People generally organize events and base them on an idea or โThemeโ, and all the attendees follow this โThemeโ.
The theme of an event can range from โBirthday partiesโ to โHalloween-themed partiesโ and many more variations. The theme of a book or story can revolve around basic principle ideas such as โAlways help a friendโ or โBeing honest.โ
Themes provide a broader perspective and do not just focus on one main idea at a time.
What is Topic?
A topic gives the reader a brief understanding with the help of a sentence, phrase, or even a word. The topic can be seen to be the main title or the heading of an article or story,
The context does not revolve around the topic; the topic instead gives us a look into the subject matter.
Topics allow the person to grasp a small idea of the context, and authors use it to entrap the reader and interest them in the stories being conveyed.
One can also see topics in places like debates, casual discussions, professional ones, and many educational books. And issues can range from many things, such as โHuman psychologyโ to โThe various fruits and vegetables.โ
A topic gives the reader a focused objective view of the subject matter and lets them know what idea is conveyed.
Main Differences Between Theme and Topic
- The theme is the central idea around which a story or event is based, while a topic is just a sentence or word that talks directly about the storyโs context.
- The author uses a theme to convey a message or to impart knowledge to the reader, while the topic gives a brief insight into the story or discussion.
- A theme gives the reader several broad perspectives, while a topic provides a focused view.
- Themes can talk about general principles and ideologies, while a topic can be about several specific things such as science, philosophy, etc.
- Words related to the theme are concept, message, thesis, and idea, while those related are subject matter, discussion, point, and concern.
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
