Question

how does a theme emerge from small details in a poem

Answer 1

A theme is what the poem is generally talking about. With poetry sometimes the theme is difficult to determine because poets tend to use allegory a lot when they write. For example, think about a song that you have heard that could have two or more meanings.

However, regardless of whether a poem is literal or allegory, a theme emerges when each line refers to a particular subject. I'll use a poem I wrote to illustrate:

What If . . .

What if someone built a machine
That could send you back in time?
It'd seem just like a crazy dream,
But would only cost a dime.

What if you could go back in time
And change mistakes that you had made?
I do not think that you'd object
To going back to change the grade.

What if you could go back and change
The things you didn't like?
I know it would be awfully strange,
But it's something I would like.

What if we could all go back
To fix every small mistake?
I think we'd all be poor as piss,
But there'd be much less heartache.

What is the theme in this poem? Time travel? No. In this poem time travel is being used as a metaphor for desire. So to find the theme, look to the object of desire. The desire is to change past mistakes, which shows regret. Regret is the theme of this poem.

Hope that helps.