Themes in Literature

Chapter 3 was about the different themes literature can have, and how they work or what they mean. Themes are ideas that communicate meanings. There can be different ways to read a text. I believe everyone views a story differently, and will take different things away from it. Depending what experiences we have been through. I liked what someone said in class about trying to figure out what the author wants the reader to get out of the story, or what they want a reader to feel. In my opinion, a great author is one who tries to pull different emotions out of their readers. The books or stories I like to read are ones that I can relate to. I do however understand that an author cannot try to relate to everyone in one book.

I especially liked reading the different stories of Little Red Riding Hood. I have always known the story, but I do not remember the last time I read the story. The Girl and the Wolf was a little bit funny. It did not contain as much detail; it just got right to the point. Some stories need the detail though. Like when Professor Corrigan told the two stories in class, the second one was much more interesting. It brought out more emotion and made us want to continue listening. Now The Wild Man of the Green Swamp was harder for me to read. I felt as if it may have had too much detail. It was confusing to me. I did not really understand the point of it. I started reading 90 Minutes in Heaven, and I feel it also does this. The author tends to repeat himself a lot. I hate reading the same ideas over and over again. But I guess it all has to do with what the author wants the reader to get out of the story.