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Themes (Structure and Plot Elements)

Oral

The themes, or plot elements, are standardized, the basic plot events limited, and the story lines are similar:

• Council
• Gathering of army
• Challenge
• Rallying cry
• Despoiling of the vanquished
• Hero's shield
• Assembly
• Meal
• Hero's helper (Ong 23).

Examples

Iliad by Homer | Opening scenes of the 2000 film, Gladiator • See the film trailer here.| Gladiator IMDB Page |

Literate

The themes are varied and less obtrusive.

Examples

• See the basic plots here.
• See Prof. Janice Patten's San Jose State University site on themes.
• See the lists of topics, themes, plots and dramatic situations here.
• See conflict and its types here.

Exception: Primally-strong emotions trigger a default back to the oral mode.

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