Home > Subjects > English > English level 3 > 3.3 Shakespeare > Subject content > Theme and purpose
- Subject: English
- AS: 90722
- Level: 3
- Credits: 3
- External
3.3 Respond critically to Shakespearean drama studied
Theme and purpose
Shakespeare is still popular throughout the world because of the universal nature of the themes he wanted to illustrate hundreds of years ago. Despite changes in language and attitudes, people will always seek entertainment and fulfilment they can apply to their own understandings of human nature. Themes in Shakespeare’s plays are often thought provoking in the subject matter and presentation. There may be one main theme and several related minor themes in a play. Think of theme as a set of beliefs and values from which judgements on the characters, setting, and actions can be made.
See, Contemporary relevance Othello.
For attitudes see Outsiders.
Key points to study
- What are the themes your text presents?
- Who is involved with these themes?
- How have these themes been shown and developed?
- What have the characters learned from dealing with this theme?
- What is the theme showing us about our world and values?
Ways to study theme
Choose six important quotations which show a theme and complete the chart below:
| Quotation | |
| Character – who said it | |
| Context – where said | |
| Meaning of quotation | |
| What it shows about characters | |
| Theme and explanation |
What does the title mean? Where in the text does it appear? What characters and themes are connected with the title?
How has the theme been shown to the audience and how effective are these techniques?
Conflict is used to reveal themes. Choose a significant event that shows conflict developing for an important character in your text.
| Character and event | |
| Theme shown | |
| Technique used | |
| Audience reaction | |
| Purpose of text |
Other keywords for theme and purpose: idea, message, challenge, issue, lesson. Conflict and character both help to show the theme.
