Comments on: How Literary Themes Are Presented in a Book Series

By: VictoriaGrace Howell

VictoriaGrace Howell — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 01:39:00 +0000

Great article! Writing themes over series is tough and this is very help ful!

By: E. E. Rawls (author)

E. E. Rawls (author) — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 01:19:00 +0000

These are helpful examples, since my focus is on writing a series. It’s interesting how the same theme can affect each book differently in a series, making the characters grow. Lord of the Rings had just about every character change or grow throughout the theme of good vs evil.

By: Sara Letourneau

Sara Letourneau — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 14:37:00 +0000

In reply to sjhigbee.

“I think the best series circle around the main themes set out in the first book and return to them in one form or another within each of the books.”

You said much of what I explained in the post so succinctly here, Sarah. 🙂 And it’s very true. Each book will introduce new or different themes, but more often than not they also return to the themes from the first installment.

By: sjhigbee

sjhigbee — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 19:49:00 +0000

What an excellent subject, Sara. Yes… I think the best series circle around the main themes set out in the first book and return to them in one form or another within each of the books. One that immediately comes to mind are Lois McMaster Bujold’s marvellous Miles Vorkosigan series wherein we first meet his parents, which is a classic Romeo and Juliet story – but after an attack on the home when Miles’ mother is pregnant, he is born with major disabilities in a culture that values strength and physical perfection. The theme of Miles coping with his difficulties in the face of hostility and prejudice as he is growing up runs through the majority of the books.