The Definition of Theme

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. The Definition of Theme

The theme of the story is basically a kind of message and ideas from the author to the people who read it. This is supported by James Pickering H. and D. Hoeper, as they said in their book “it is the author’s way of communicating and sharing ideas, perceptions and feelings with his readers”. 2 In literature, a theme is abroad idea in a story, or message or lesson conveyed by a work. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. 3 Theme is not just the central of a story at whole; it also contains moral lessons that can be applied in everybody’s life. The idea of a story can be a way to learn and to teach in improving someone’s attitude. The ideas bear interpretation of people’s experience as it is supported by Robert and Warren that, “the theme is what a piece of fiction stacks up to, it is the idea, the significant, the interpretation of person and events, the pervasive and unifying view of life, which is embodied in total narrative”. 4 In a short fiction, theme may be found more than one as Henry Tarigan states that, “… bahwa dalam karya fiksi mungkin saja ditemukan lebih dari satu tema…” 5 . As it is also stated in a site that a theme as an idea or main concept of the story in many novels or short stories, may contain more than one theme. 6 It is 2 James H. Pickering and Jefeery D. Hoeper, Concise Companion to Literature, New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1981, p. 61 3 http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiTheme_28literature29 on December. 4 Warren, Robert P., Understanding Fiction, New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1969, p. 273. 5 Henry Guntur Tarigan, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Sastra, Bandung Angkasa, 1991, p. 120. 6 Themeliterature, http:wikipedia.orgwikitheme 28literature29. now known that two or more themes can be revealed in a story. As Kennedy states “theme of the story is whatever general idea or insight the entire story reveals.” 7 It has been stated also by Nurgiyantoro that “makna cerita dalam sebuah karya fiksi-novel, mungkin saja lebih dari satu, atau lebih tepatnya: lebih dari satu interpretas.” 8 From this fact, the writer believes that every person reads the literary work may obtain different themes as long as his themes are still related to the entire story. + + + = Figure 1. Basic Elements in Fiction 9 The figure described that other elements of short fiction like point of view, exposition, conflict, character are part of elements that supporting themes. In other words, theme is the total meaning of those elements. It revealed from those elements. Theme is the total meaning of the story. It is the underlying significance of the experience the story relates; it is an interpretation of human life: it is the author’s 7 X J. Kennedy, An introduction to Fiction, Boston, Toronto: Little, Brown and company, 1979, p.103 8 Burhan Nurgiyantoro, Teori Pengkajian Fiksi, Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University Press. 2002., p. 82 9 Marguerite Smith Holton, English Composition Book II, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1996, p. 62 Point of View Exposition Conflict Character Theme Or Total Meaning Basic Elements in Fiction comments of human values; it is the sum total of all the elements in the story. It is an implicit idea with universal overtones made manifest through the lives and thoughts of the characters. 10 To sustain his theme, the other select a particular point of view, inserts information, creates particular conflicts. In literary work, either short story or novel always has a theme because theme is the center of idea in a literary work. There are various theories of themes the writer found in the book of literary. One of them is stated by William Kenny that “theme is one of the most important elements of a novel to make the matter simple; theme is the meaning of the story. It also means something that can be derived from the story and may be defined on the central idea in a work of literature” 11 . As it is supported by James Pickering and D. Hoeper that “Theme is the central idea or statement about life that unifies and control the total work” 12 . In Kamus Istilah Sastra, it has been similarly defined that, “Tema adalah gagasan, ide atau pikiran utama di dalam karya sastra yang terungkap ataupun tidak. Tema dapat dijabarkan dalam beberapa pokok.” 13 Other theorist, Sylvan Barnet et al in their book said that “usually, a story is about something, it has a meaning, a point-theme.” 14 William Kenny had some ideas about theme that “theme is the total meaning discovered by the writer in the process of writing and by the reader in the process of reading.” 15 The theme is term which has various meaning for different people, “theme is also used sometimes to refer to the basic issue, problem, or subject with which the works 10 ibid 11 William Kenny, How to Analyze Fiction, New York: Monarch Press,, 1996, p. 89 12 James H. pickering and Jefeery D Hoeper, op. cit p., p.61. 13 Panuti Sudjiman, Kamus Istilah Sastra, Jakarta: PT. Gramedia, 1984, p. 74 14 Silvant Barnet et al, An Introduction to Literature New York: Monarch Press, 1961, p.15. 15 William Kenny, op. cit., p.94 concerned”, said D. Hoeper and Pickering. 16 In addition, the theme is considered as the important information taken from the literary work. The information can be the human experience, the comment on principle of individual characteristic and behavior, and the conception of the person’s experience in the world. According to Cleant Brooks, theme is an interpretation of the story itself. He continues, it is an interpretation of the world beyond the story. So, the story may be interpreted because it has what we call a theme, as Brook defined, the governing idea implicit in the original situation of conflict that becomes the focal idea in the end of the story.” 17 Hence, the idea of a story could be interpreted beyond the story itself to reveal the values of life. The writer recognizes that theme must have accordance to the kind of the story itself, whether it is comedy, horror or romantic. Theme can be built from other elements of the story. It means theme is the story and the story is the theme. According to Brook that “Only when the theme is implicit in the other elements of a play and a dynamic progression of the story can the story be said to exist at all” 18 . So, it can be said that “the story is the theme and theme is the story.” 19 From several definitions of theme above, it can be concluded that every story does not contain only one theme. It may contain more than one. Moreover, the theme itself is every main point or the central insight revealed along the story that bring value of life that can be a moral lesson for the readers.

B. The Importance of Theme in a Story