Differences Between Theme, Plot, and Argument
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e, plot, and argument will ruin your novel.
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NOTKNOWINGTHEDIFFERENCEBETWEENTHEMEP,LOTAND
THEARGUMENTWILLRUINYOURNOVEL
10/05/2018
I have written a book.
Oh, really? And what is it about?
All of us who write have experienced this moment at some point, right? I hate that question because
I never know what to answer. I often sum it up in something like this:
Well... it's a family saga of magical realism in a fictional town.
If the wordsmagical realismit doesn't sound Chinese to my interlocutor, he replies:
Come on! In the style of One Hundred Years of Solitude, right?
Yes, something like that...
I am aware that this does not answer your question. I limit myself to stating the literary genres in which it fits.
my story. But most people are satisfied with that explanation (thank goodness!). However,
others no, and they keep investigating…
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Let's rewind:
I have written a book.
—Oh, really? And what's it about?
Well... it is a family saga of magical realism in a fictional town.
—Aha, but what's it about? Tell me the plot.
Error! That person doesn't want me to tell them the plot, because that would be recounting my story from the beginning to the end.
And I haven't spent months writing and choosing theperfect wordsto sum up my book to
my potential readers. When people ask what our book is about, they usually refer to the synopsis, it is
to say, to the general idea of the story. In my case, it would be:
I tell the life of several generations of a family in which all the women who are born with hair
Those who seem destined to lose the ability to love and to suffer a tragic end.
Ah, how interesting.
But if I really told him what it was about, I would have to mention the latent theme in the novel. So, my answer
it would be:
The conditioning of the environment and the past in vital development.
Surely, if I answered that, he would have a poker face and lose the desire to know more.
details. Or worse yet, that would lead them to bombard me with questions because they wouldn't have found out anything.
Once I was asked directly about the topic. A kind of litmus test to see if I had
I had no idea what I was writing. On that occasion, the poker face was mine, although I came out more or less unscathed.
So that you don't end up like me, you should consider right now what the argument, the plot, and the theme of your ...
novel, if you haven't done so yet. I had to reflect on it when I wrote myeditorial proposal.
Differencebetweentheme,plot,andargument
Mrs. Argument presents the thread. Mrs. Plot cuts here and connects there. And Mrs. Theme gives meaning to the whole.
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the biggest danger that readers face is receiving an unexpected spoiler, if someone really tells them about it.
argument instead of the synopsis. However, as a writer, it is vital that you understand these concepts, because not
Knowing the difference between theme, plot, and storyline can ruin your novel. That's why you should have them clear.
before you start writing your story or, at least, beforeto correct it.
Schematically, we can define them like this:
Argument: a set of actions carried out by the characters, presented in chronological order, but without
establish causal relationships between them.
Plot: Way of presenting those actions and the causal relationships established between them.
Theme: Issue that underlies the story being told.
Theargumentistheleastimportantthing.
The problem of many novice writers is that they start with a good idea, but they do not know how to develop it. It is
to say, they have (more or less) defined the argument of their story (who the characters are and what is going to happen to them
pass) and they are limited to explaining the events. But that is not literature. Hence the argument more
the original of the world could give rise to a disastrous novel in inexperienced hands, and the most trite argument, to
a brilliant novel in the right hands.
The important thing is not what you tell, but how you tell it. For a good argument to become a good
A novel must be structured, and that is what the plot consists of.
Thesecretisintheplot
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What makes the novel work is the plot. This is basically composed of four elements: the
(who are they?), their actions (what do they do?), their motivations (why do they do it?) and the
setting (where and when do they do it?). To develop these elements and, therefore, build the plot,
It is necessary to choose the type of narrator, the order in which the events will be presented, and the relationship that will be established.
among them.
From thechoice of narratorit will depend on the tone of the narration, the amount of information provided and the
rhythm of this. For example, an omniscient narrator knows everything about everyone, but a witness narrator only knows
what he sees with his own eyes.
Regarding the order, you can start from the beginning, in medias res (in the middle of the story), or from the end.
the chronology of events or making continuous flashbacks and flashforwards. You can divide it into chapters
long ones, in short chapters or do without them. The possibilities are many. How to know which ones to choose?
Consider what type of reader you are addressing and what feelings you want to convey to them at each moment. From that point on
there, apply the most suitable literary resources.
There is no narrator nor a better order than another; it depends on the needs of each story. However, how many...
moreconflictsAs you plant, the more plots and subplots you will have to develop. And the more changes
including temporary ones, the greater the difficulty of maintaining thecohesion and coherenceof history. That’s why the
novice writers should not get into gardens from which they do not know how to exit. If a certain story requires a
especially complex plot, perhaps the novice writer would have to choose to break away with other stories
simpler. Or taking it very slowly to develop it properly.
But veteran writers also make mistakes in this regard. Tired of always using the same
mechanisms, decide to experiment, for example, with a type of narrator they have never used before. Without
Embargo, one cannot impose a certain narrator or chronology on a story, whether out of fear of coming out
from our comfort zone or by the desire to do so. Each story has its own narrative needs and the
the writer's task is to detect them. A bad decision in this regard will cause the novel to fail, no matter how much
expertise that the writer has.
Insearchofthetheme
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It is not necessary for our topic to be original. In fact, it is practically impossible for it to be, since all the
literature revolves around the same universal themes: love, hate, the meaning of life, the passage of
time, death... Therefore, what makes a story unique is not the theme itself, but our way of
expose it.
In every story lies a theme, but sometimes even the author himself does not know what it is. At least, not at first.
And nothing happens. Many times, we write about a topic unconsciously, and only upon putting the final point on
The story reveals itself. But sooner or later you have to discover it, because at the moment of correction
You will review if you have managed to capture your idea regarding that topic and convey the sentiment you intended.
hope, fear, emptiness, guilt…
Perhaps not all readers will agree on what theme underlies your story, as this is usually not unique and each
the reader will focus on one of them according to their own experiences. But, in my opinion, there should be
unanimity about the emotion it provokes. If you wanted to convey a positive message and all the readers
They end up in ruins, something you haven't fully controlled in your story, don't you think?
A common mistake among novice writers is to highlight the theme of their work instead of making it objective. That is
dangerous because the reader may feel that the text is biased or moralizing, and that is not usually the case
the pleasure of no one. Good literature evokes, it does not teach.
Being able to convey a theme while evoking the emotion we desire is one of the keys tofascinate the readerPerhaps
I forgot the plot and the storyline, but in his memory will remain that mark that our story left him.
Whyisitimportanttoknowthedifferencebetweentheme,plot,andargumentforcorrection?
anovel
If you are a writer ofmapBefore you sit down to write, you already know what the plot of your story is, you have
you have outlined the entire plot, and you surely have a clear idea of the main theme. But when you finish the draft,
You need to review the first notes and check if you have managed to structure and communicate everything that
you had planned. Because there is a possibility that the story has gone out of control, and in the end the topic that
if another underlies and you have to make certain adjustments to the plot and the argument.
If you are a writer ofcompass, you may start writing guided by a simple synopsis or, at most, by a
a more or less outlined argument. The plot and the theme will emerge as you type. When the time comes to
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the timely changes. It will depend on this whether your novel makes sense or falls apart everywhere.
Whatever your writing method, knowing the difference between theme, plot, and argument is essential for
to be able to review your novel and see if it works on all levels.
And you, did you know the difference between theme, argument, and plot?
Which of these concepts do you refer to when asked what your novel is about?
EBOOK PAPER
DoyouwanttoreadTheSeedsofResentment?
Hidden among mountains, Pesinistra is a hostile town unable to shake off its prejudices. By Elisa
they say she carries the devil inside because of the color of her hair. She is not willing to tolerate his disdain and
he leaves for the big city. But there he does not find a better future and returns to the village, where he is only met with
the bad life that was foretold to him.
Armed with the hatred that has been sown in her, she will make an oath that will seal the destiny of her
descendants and of Pesinistra.
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20COMMENTS
RR
.L
.OPEZ Responder
November 5, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Hello, I loved the article. I had an idea of what you were talking about, but I didn't actually know what the plot was.
Synopsis were equivalent. I always try to give an elevator speech to respond to those who...
they ask what my new book is about, when I publish one, but I don't always manage to do it, and with the
The information you provide is much easier. I share it on social media. Regards.
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
11/05/2018
Hello, R. R.:
I’m glad you liked it and find it useful. But plot and synopsis are not equivalent:
Synopsis is the general idea, no more than three or four lines, and plot is the construction of the
novel in itself. Come on, when you turn a sequence of events (plot) into
literature.
Thank you for the dissemination!
Greetings.
JUAN Responder
19/02/2019 at 3:09 am
Hello, I loved the article!! I saw several on the web and this is the one that was clearest for me to understand.
The difference, and the representation of each one with the drawing is very good!! Greetings and thank you!
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
February 19, 2019 at 4:58 PM
I'm glad that it's clear to you! I'm satisfied.
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July 28, 2021 Not knowing the difference between theme, plot, and argument will ruin your novel.
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Thank you Ester, I am studying the technical degree in Visual Effects and Animation at the university and in
Art history assigned me a task to write the plot of a Poe story, now I understand perfectly.
the difference between plot and argument, the plot is like the editing in cinema of the movie, Greetings!
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
28/04/2019 at 8:21 am
I'm glad it helped you resolve your doubts. These concepts are often confused with
frequency.
Greetings, Hernan.
SR
. ODRÍGUEZ Responder
24/07/2019
Thank you for this article. Finally, I have found answers to my questions about the topic. It has seemed to me
Very interesting and above all understandable. I'm sharing it on social media. Best regards.
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
25/07/2019
That was the purpose: to clarify concepts. Thank you for commenting and sharing!
SURABAYACARGO Responder
05/02/2021
I loved it!
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
06/02/2021
I'm glad.😊
PAT R I C I A Respond
March 28, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Excellent article. I am currently revising my novel and reading this was very helpful.
usefulness. Very clear and accessible. Thank you!
Greetings.
EstherMagar Responder
29/03/2021
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Greetings.
SARVELIONAVARRO Responder
April 13, 2021 at 8:02 AM
I think I will start writing.
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
28/04/2021
Cheer up!
JOSERV
. ELASCO Responder
04/05/2021 at 2:10 am
You explain it in a very light way. I still found the difference between plot and a bit tricky.
argument, and I was a bit frightened that this could affect my novel. Can you help me continue it with
more security, thank you!
EstherMagar Answer
07/05/2021 at 6:10 pm
How nice that I clarified concepts for you.
CRISTINARODRIGUEZ Responder
04/06/2021 at 6:21 am
Well explained! I am starting my first novel and in the effort to organize it as best as possible,
I realized that I didn't have a clear understanding of the differences between plot and storyline. Not to mention the subject! Haha.
Thank you!
ESTHERMAGAR Responder
07/06/2021
I'm glad I was able to clarify your thoughts. Good luck with that novel.
RUBÉNDARÍOZÁRRATE Responder
06/06/2021 at 7:27 PM
Hello Ester. I appreciate the practical advice since I finished writing a short story about myself.
grandmother who died at 103 years old, was a teacher and got married at 43 years old. Her life story always inspires me.
It fascinated me. That's why I discovered that my story needed to become a novel.
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What a beautiful story. Good luck with that novel.
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