What are some common themes in high school English literature?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

High school English literature is an important subject that exposes students to a wide range of literary genres, styles, and themes. Some of the most common themes in high school English literature include:

  • Love and Romance: Love is a timeless theme that is explored in many works of literature. From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, love and romance are popular themes in high school English literature.
  • Coming of Age: Many works of literature explore the theme of coming of age, as young protagonists struggle to find their place in the world. Examples include J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.
  • Identity: Questions of identity and self-discovery are also common in high school English literature. Works such as Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar explore the complexities of identity formation.
  • Prejudice and Discrimination: High school English literature also frequently addresses issues of prejudice and discrimination, including racism, sexism, and homophobia. Examples include Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Alice Walker's The Color Purple.

These are just a few examples of the many themes explored in high school English literature. By engaging with works of literature that tackle complex and universal themes, students develop critical thinking skills and gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Note that this list is not exhaustive and there are many other common themes that can be found in high school English literature.