This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophie Burkholder, BA. Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
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Stories can connect us all, whether through heart-wrenching lyrics, iconic coming-of-age films, or classic novels that still resonate with us in the modern day. Often, we relate so deeply to literature and other works of art because they feature universal themes that relate to our—and anyone’s—life experiences. In this article, we’ll explore exactly how to define universal themes and give you a list of universal topics used by writers and artists (along with many famous examples of universal themes). If you’re a teacher or writer yourself, you’ll also find some ideas for teaching or incorporating universal themes in your own stories and lessons.