What are some common literary themes?

Some common literary themes are love, sacrifice and struggle, and the idea of life and death. Love is the most common theme in all of literature.

Other common themes include "The Great Journey," in which a character embarks on a adventure that has multiple steps and episodes. A story such as "The Odyssey" is an example. "The Fall From Grace" is another theme, in which a character performs an act that he is not meant to perform and is riddled with misfortune. Yet another theme is "The Big Trick," in which a character intentionally tricks another. An example of this is "Stone Soup."