Thematic Statement

If you are studying creative writing or you are a student of literature, you are bound to come across a literary tool called the thematic statement.

What is a Thematic Statement?
A theme is the central core of thought, that is conveyed through the whole work. A thematic statement is that core idea encapsulated in the simplest form. A literary work may have multiple parallel themes running through it and multiple statements may be required to expound each one of those themes.

You may have to come up with a thematic statement for a literary work as part of your course study or you may have to write one, as a part of your essay. Whatever be the reason, to write an effective statement, that cuts to the heart of the piece of writing, you need to really understand what is written and uncover the central link that binds the whole thing together.

How to Write One?
When it comes to creative writing, there are no rules about how to go about doing anything. Still there are some things that can be identified as desirable features of a thematic statement. Besides the obvious factor that it should make sense, here are some guidelines.

Encapsulate the Gist of the Work
Writing such a statement is really conveying the message of the whole work in one sentence. It is not the whole story told in short and neither is it a precis writing exercise. It is the statement that will drive home what has been said thorough the whole prose indirectly. So, before writing, one needs to really understand the whole work and convey what is felt in the simplest words.

No Specifics
It's not desirable that you go into the specifics of what actually happened in the story. Your thematic statement is the answer to why it all happened. It is the statement that helps to make sense of all that happened in a story.

Avoid Generalization or Absolute Statements
Another undesirable feature is having absolutes built into it. If you think that what you are saying is really universal and absolutely true in all cases and all the time, go ahead and stick to your stand. However, more often than never, you are not so sure whether what you want to say applies to all situations. That's why, don't make absolute statements unless you are really sure.

No Moral Condescension Please
It is really unnerving to read a statement that sounds like the conclusion of Aesop's fables. Try not to turn the statement into a moral edict of some sort. Keep it open as an idea, rather than putting it up as a moral demand.

Avoid Cliches
Try not to get into cliches and be original. Speak your mind and what you feel rather than use a popular punchline. Just write what you felt and be honest to the feeling that the piece of literary work invoked in you.

As practice for writing statements, you can start by writing some for novels that you read. Just write down what you think is the theme or thought behind the whole work and then justify your statement through references in the original literature. This will improve your reading comprehension and also acquaint you with the various ways in which a writer's thoughts can manifest in writing.

To put it in simple words, a thematic statement is simply the gist of a literary work's philosophy. Make sure the one you write, works the same way.