Themes in Many Genres

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In the world of literature, there are many themes that exist in a variety of genres. In the Gettysburg Address, a speech made by 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln tries to reassure listeners that the country’s problems will be resolved in the midst of war. The American Civil War has caused many domestic issues, provoking panic from the general public. George J. Mitchell’s opinion essay, Peace isn’t Impossible, attempts to convince readers that the conflicts and tensions in Northern Ireland should end as soon as possible. Catholics and Protestants, to this day, are in tensions and turmoil, over the topic of religion. The visual, A Man Knows a Man, drawn by an unknown artist, tries to convey the union of the North and South after the American Civil War. In the war, the North and South divided over states’ rights and slavery debates. Lastly, Liam O’Flaherty’s short story The Sniper, illustrates the events that take place two brothers, on opposing sides, during the Irish Civil War. The main character, the Republican sniper, favors independent rule by the Irish, while the brother, who is a Free-Stater, favors the division of Ireland by the British.

Abraham Lincoln’s speech, The Gettysburg Address, Mitchell’s opinion essay Peace isn’t Impossible, and the visual, A Man Knows a Man, share a common theme, which is commonly referred to as a universal theme. The themes expressed in these three texts are directly stated, making the author’s message more clearly to readers. The various structures of texts greatly affect the delivery of the theme, due to their having different parameters and goals. Poems, for example, have different kinds of literary devices, such as imagery and figurative language, which help readers explore the theme...

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...se genres support the theme and the structure of the text in many ways. It is crucial for young adults, and people interested in the topic of war, to understand a literature such as this essay, so they can be able to realize the negative effects of civil war, expressed in writing and art. Themes across various genres are crucial to the stability of society and humankind, since they establish the common thinking of people. With the universal theme expressed in The Gettysburg Address, Peace isn’t Impossible, and A Man Knows a Man, readers are able to realize that the effects of civil war are negative, and that the practice of war should be abolished, which is a statement one can believe in. It is vital for people to be able to read and explore various genres in order to gain the author’s insight on life, and basic human concerns that need to be addressed more often.

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