Hello there, eager learners! Today, we’re going to untangle the often mixed-up words: “theme“, “subject“, and “topic“. These words may seem to have the same meaning, but when we look closer, there are some interesting differences. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Theme
A “theme” (IPA: /θiːm/) generally refers to the main idea or underlying message that runs throughout a work, like a book, movie, or song.
Examples:
- The theme of the story is love conquers all. (The main idea of the story is about the power of love)
- Betrayal is a common theme in his novels. (Betrayal is a main idea in his novels)
- The theme of the party is “Under the Sea”. (The central idea for the party’s decorations and costumes is “Under the Sea”)
- The movie’s theme is the struggle for survival. (The underlying message of the movie is the struggle for survival)
- That song has a theme of self-empowerment. (The main message of the song is self-empowerment)
Subject
The term “subject” (IPA: /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/) typically denotes what something is about in a very broad sense. It can refer to the main topic of conversation, study, or artistic work.
Examples:
- The subject of the painting is a woman. (The painting is broadly about a woman)
- Our main subject in today’s meeting is the upcoming project. (The main topic of conversation in the meeting is the upcoming project)
- His favorite subject in school is history. (His favorite area of study in school is history)
- The subject of the book is World War II. (The book broadly talks about World War II)
- The documentary’s subject is climate change. (The documentary broadly discusses climate change)
Topic
A “topic” (IPA: /ˈtɒpɪk/) is a specific issue or point of discussion in a conversation, piece of writing, or study.
Examples:
- The topic of the essay is “Effects of Global Warming”. (The specific issue to be discussed in the essay is the effects of global warming)
- Our main topic for today’s lesson is fractions. (The specific point of study for today’s lesson is fractions)
- The topic of their discussion was recent political events. (Their discussion was specifically about recent political events)
- She chose a challenging topic for her thesis. (She chose a specific issue for her thesis)
- The topic of the lecture is “Renaissance Art”. (The specific point of discussion in the lecture is Renaissance Art)
Conclusion
To wrap it all up, a “theme” is the main idea or message in a piece of work, a “subject” is what something is broadly about, and a “topic” is a specific issue or point of discussion. Remember to use each word in its appropriate context and you’ll master these in no time!