Difference Between Subject and Theme

Subject vs Theme
 

Subject and Theme are two words that are often confused when it comes to their usage and connotations since most consider them to have no difference between them. Actually speaking, there is a slight difference between subject and theme that needs to be understood. The word subject is used in the sense of ‘niche’ or ‘branch of knowledge’. On the other hand, the word ‘theme’ is used in the sense of ‘the central point’ of a subject or a topic. This is the main difference between the two words, namely subject and theme. This usage as well as other usages of the words subject and theme will be discussed in this article with examples.

What is a Subject?

The word subject refers to ‘niche’ or ‘branch of knowledge.’ Observe the two sentences given below:

He is a specialist in the subject.

She learnt the subject very well.

In both the sentences, you can see that the word subject is used in the sense of ‘niche’ or ‘branch of knowledge’ and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘he is a specialist in the niche’ and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘she learnt the branch of knowledge very well’.It is interesting to note that the word subject is sometimes used in the sense of ‘text of study’. This meaning is usually followed in schools and colleges.

What is a Theme?

The word theme refers to ‘the central point’ of a subject or a topic. Bearing that in mind, observe the two sentences given below:

The theme of the poem was good.

It was difficult to understand the theme of the talk.

In both the sentences, you can find that the word theme is used in the sense of ‘central idea or point’ and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘the central idea of the poem was good’ and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘it was difficult to understand the central point of the talk’. This is the basic difference between the two words, namely, subject and theme.

Further, the word theme has figurative usage in addition to ordinary usage. Expressions such as ‘musical theme’ and ‘theme music’ are generally heard. In these two expressions, the first one, musical theme, refers to the central idea of an event or some similar occasion. Look at the following example.

Our prom was organized to musical theme.

You must sometimes have heard uses of the word theme as in ‘wild west theme park.’ Here, it refers to a place that is organized to evoke the cowboy period in United States of America.

What is the difference between Subject and Theme?

• The word subject is used in the sense of ‘niche’ or ‘branch of knowledge’.

• On the other hand, the word ‘theme’ is used in the sense of ‘the central point’ of a subject or a topic. This is the main difference between subject and theme.

• The word subject is sometimes used in the sense of ‘text of study’.

• On the other hand, the word theme has figurative usage in addition to ordinary usage.