temas

Temas is the plural form of tema in Spanish and Portuguese, used to denote the subject matter, topics, or central ideas in a work or discussion. The word derives from Latin thema, borrowed from Greek thema, meaning a proposition or something laid down. In both languages, temas can refer to the subject of conversation, the recurring subject of study, or the central idea in literary, artistic, or scholarly works.

In literary and film analysis, a tema is the underlying idea explored by a narrative, such as love, power, or redemption. It differs from the plot or subject matter; a work can present multiple themes that are expressed through characters, events, and symbols. In educational contexts, identifying themes helps readers interpret messages, moral questions, or social critiques embedded in a text.

In music, a tema is the main melodic idea that recurs and can be developed through variation and contrast. A theme may appear in several movements or sections, with related material transforming as the piece progresses, while a motif is a shorter musical figure that contributes to the overall thematic material. In visual arts and cinema, temas refer to recurring subjects, motifs, or ideas that connect works within a genre or the oeuvre of an artist or director.

In linguistics and rhetoric, tema, often translated as topic, denotes the element of discourse that presents what a sentence or passage is about. The theme is typically contrasted with the rheme, the portion of the message that provides new information. Overall, temas function as organizing and interpretive concepts across languages and disciplines.