Date of Defense
4-1990
Department
English
Abstract
A book's title is its name, its identity. It may function to catch the reader's attention, to identify the main character or setting, or to hint at what the book is about. By its very prominence and singularity, the title seems important; and probably for this reason, many writers give their books thematic titles. Such titles highlight a work's major theme. They are clues to the reader to be alert, to watch for allusions to the title in the text. For instance, readers of Milan Kundera's The Joke know from the title to pay attention to references to jokes and to consider these important. As one can see, such an investigation can lead to the heart of the novel.
Recommended Citation
Hartman, Matthew S., "A Study of Titles and Themes in the Works of Milan Kundera" (1990). Honors Theses. 1786.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/1786
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Campus Only