What is the universality of themes?

Question

I really don't get what it is. Examples between classic(as in Tom Sawyer, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc) literature would be appreciated. I'm supposed to write a conclusion to an essay explaning this, so any help you can give will be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

THE UNIVERSITY OF THEMES ----- When you are writing about literature, the text that you are studying is called the "primary source." For example, if you are writing about Huckleberry Finn, that novel is your primary source of evidence for whatever argument (thesis) you are making in your paper. You quote from the novel to support your claims about the literary techniques used in the story and the universality of the story's theme. You analyze certain parts of the story to determine what is valuable about it as a work of art. You defend your claims with direct references to your primary source—that is, with quotations from the story.

What is a "secondary source"?

Secondary sources are essays or entire books that have been written by literary critics about the text you are studying. To write with authority about your choice of literary text, you should familiarize yourself with what has been written about that text in the past. In fact, one goal of your writing should be to add something to the body of critical work that has been done on the text in question.

You want to be sure that the secondary sources you use are reputable ones. Look for sources that have been written by established literary critics. You can find sources you can trust by looking for books published by reputable publishing houses.