Take a closer look at “The Interview,” based on the themes of power and impact of interviews from your Class 12 English book, Flamingo. We’re going to talk about the main idea this story in a simple way, breaking it down point wise.  This post is for students who want to understand the story better and for teachers who are looking for ways to make this story clearer to their students. Let’s dive into what The Interview theme is- 

Theme of the Chapter “The Interview” in Short

“The theme of this chapter is the power and impact of interviews.”

The Interview Theme – Justification

Let’s see how this theme is applicable to the chapter “The Interview”-

The theme is justified as the chapter shows how interviews reveal people’s true thoughts and influence public opinion. Through Umberto Eco’s experiences, it shows how interviews can be powerful but also need to be handled carefully to respect privacy and convey meaningful insights.

Also Read:

• Hard Words : The Interview Difficult Words in English
• The Interview Introduction
• Justify the title The Interview
• The Interview Moral and Message

List of Themes-

Let’s see some more themes appropriately applicable on the chapter  “The Interview”-

1. Power of Interviews
2. Privacy vs. Public Life
3. Ethics in Journalism
4. Balance of Work and Creativity
5. Impact of Communication
6. Personal Identity
7. Complexity vs. Popularity

Point wise Justification-

Let’s see in detail how these themes are connected to the chapter “The Interview”- 

Here’s how each theme belongs to the chapter “The Interview,” with examples from Umberto Eco’s experiences:

1. Power of Interviews:  The chapter shows how interviews can strongly influence public opinion. Umberto Eco’s interviews helped people understand his thoughts and work. This shows the big impact interviews have on shaping opinions.

2. Privacy vs. Public Life: Many famous people, including Umberto Eco, struggle with balancing their private life and public exposure. The chapter shows how interviews can feel like an invasion of privacy. 

3. Ethics in Journalism: The chapter discusses the ethical responsibility of interviewers to respect the boundaries of the person they interview. Umberto Eco’s interviews show how important it is for journalists to be careful and respectful.

4. Balance of Work and Creativity: Umberto Eco is a great example of balancing academic work with creative writing. The chapter shows how he managed to be successful in both areas. This reflects the theme of balancing different passions.

5. Impact of Communication: Interviews are a key way to communicate ideas to a wider audience. Through Umberto Eco’s interviews, the chapter explains how interviews help people connect with the thoughts and experiences of others.

6. Personal Identity: Umberto Eco sees himself mainly as a professor, even though he is a famous novelist. This theme shows how public figures define themselves beyond their public image.

7. Complexity vs. Popularity: The chapter shows how Umberto Eco’s complex novel “The Name of the Rose” became popular. This theme reflects how even deep, intellectual works can reach and resonate with a large audience.

Detailed Answer Type Question:

Question- What are the main themes in the chapter “The Interview” by Umberto Eco, and how do they shape the understanding of interviews and public life? Answer in 100 to 150 words.

Answer- The chapter “The Interview” explores several important themes through the experiences of Umberto Eco. It shows the power of interviews in shaping public opinion by revealing the true thoughts of famous people.

It also shows the struggle between privacy and public life, as interviews can sometimes invade personal space. The chapter discusses the ethics of journalism, emphasizing the need for interviewers to respect boundaries.

Umberto Eco’s life reflects the balance between work and creativity, as he successfully managed both academic work and novel writing. The impact of communication is shown through interviews that connect people with deeper ideas. It also explores how public figures define themselves beyond fame and how complex works can still become popular.