Possible Thematic Topic Ideas NOTES:

**These are NOT thesis statements. They are thematic topic ideas.

**You must NARROW THESE IDEAS DOWN into a specific statement in order for it to

become a thesis statement. 1. Specific/certain circumstances, past and/or present, provide a significant basis for explaining a person’s

attitudes and/or actions (e.g. family life; childhood; sexual experiences; love experiences; etc.).

2. Human beings, even when they are trapped or imprisoned, tend to assert their individuality or personal

freedom.

3. The voice of the narrator often has a profound impact on the impact of the story.

4. Madness may in fact be sanity.

5. Setting becomes character.

6. First love can have a profound effect on a person.

7. Parent-child relationships are …

8. Growing up is hard to do.

9. Human beings are beautiful not in spite of, but because of their quirks.

10. Loss of innocence is inevitable.

11. Literature that appears sad is often more joyful than comedy.

12. Heroism can be destructive.

13. Free will …

14. Rebel figures …

15. Imagery is powerful because …

16. Symbolism is powerful because …

17. Ugliness and horror are fascinating and can emphasize the beautiful.

18. The journey motif …

19. Religion in literature ….

20. Ageism …

21. Reality is often illusion and vice versa OR what something is may not be what it appears to be and vice

versa (i.e. appearance vs. reality).

22. What goes around comes around (the idea of “reaping what we sow” OR the idea that there are

consequences for each and every action that one does.

23. The struggle between good and evil … (who wins; who loses; why)

24. What is power?