THEME-RHEME ANALYSIS: EXPLORING THE THEMATIC STRUCTURE OF EDGAR ALLAN POE’S DREAM-THEMED POEMS

Abstract

This study investigates the realisation of textual meaning through
theme-rheme structures of four dream-themed poems by Poe. This study has
analysed these poems by studying the themes and rhemes in a unitary clause
and identifying the role different kinds of themes play in establishing textual
metafunctions of the language. The results illustrated the poems exhibited
simple, multiple, topical, interpersonal, and textual, along with marked and
unmarked themes. Unmarked topical themes contributed to a clear, easy-tounderstand experience and dominated three of the four poems. Where the
poet desired to create cohesion and flow of language, multiple themes were
prevalent, and with a higher percentage of textual themes. Furthermore, the
deviations in thematic structure of the poems also indicated the development
of Poe’s poetic style and intent. The thematic analysis of the poems showed
how the thematic structure contributes to creating meaning and unification
of ideas in the text through cohesion, coherence, and emphasis. In terms of
teaching pedagogy, the use of theme-rheme structure as an analytical tool
for poetry will lead students and teachers to a more profound understanding
of the poet's intent and attitude, and the shared beliefs being evoked in
poetic texts.