main theme
Core narrative thread
The main theme is the central idea or subject that runs through a work—a novel's main theme might be redemption, a film's might be loss of innocence.
In music, the main theme is the primary melody that defines a piece, often recurring throughout: The main theme from Jaws is instantly recognizable.
The phrase distinguishes the dominant thread from secondary or minor themes.
- centralIn the middle, primary
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- coreCentral essential portion
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- motifRecurring thematic element
subject · focus · big picture · thread · common thread · red thread · gist · heart · crux · message · keynote · underlying · dominant · recurring · plot · narrative · story arc · melody
- Star Wars musicImperial March, opening crawl, end credits, victory celebration
- "Main" phrases
- soundtracksfilm score, original score, end credits, orchestral score, title track
- film musicfilm score, soundtrack, movie soundtrack, underscore, background music
- Game Musicboss music, menu music, credits music, victory fanfare, game over music
- melodytune, melody, air, phrase, motif
main themesubplot
Subordinate narrative strand
side plot · subtheme · tangent · digression · aside
main themesubtheme
Secondary thematic element
countermelody · accompaniment · variation · undercurrent · leitmotif
main themetriviality
Unimportant small matter
minor detail · marginalia · afterthought · irrelevancy · incidental