AN ANALYSIS OF THEMES AND SUB-THEMES IN JUDY BLUME’S ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET

摘要

The objectives of this research are to identify the themes and sub-themes in Blume’snovel Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, andto figure out the types of the themes embodied in that novel. The researcher uses new criticism and childrens’ literature theories to answer the formulated research questions.udThe method used in this research was qualitative content analysis. The subject of this research was a novel entitled Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume. The data were some phrases, clauses, and sentences related to the themes and sub-themes. The key instrument of this research was there searcher herself employing the elements of literature theory by Leo Hamlian and Freddefick R. Karl and childrens’ literature theory by Rebecca J. Lukens as explained in the analytical construct. The data analysis was conducted through six steps: identifying, reading and re-reading, coding and categorizing, sorting the data, making the interrelation between the description of the data and the theory, and making an interpretation of the findings. The indicators made were based on the employed theory. To gain the trustworthiness, the researcher used data triangulation technique by crosschecking the data with her consultants and otherresearchers.udThe findings of the research show that there arefour big themes in the novel, there are the process in reaching adolescence, familyinfluence in reaching adolescence, the importance of friendship in the process of adolescence, and the process of searching for belief. In addition, the types of themes embodied in the main themes are implicit, and the sub-themes are expressed explicitly in maturing physically, rebellion, parenting, peer group, and friendship relationship, and implicitly in maturing emotinaly, self anxiety, sexual feeling, parent-child relationship, intimacy with God, understanding of the existence of God, and understanding religion.