Common Sense
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Introduction 1. Of the Origin and Design of Government 2. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession 3. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs 4. Of the Present Ability of America Appendix
Themes
All Themes The Role of Government The Case Against Monarchy Independence vs. Dependence Reason, Morality, and Rhetoric
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Thomas Paine King George III
Symbols
All Symbols Parent and Child
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Ethos Fallacy Genre Hyperbole Metaphors Mood Pathos Personification Setting Similes Style Tone
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
The LitCharts.com logo.
Sign In Sign up for A+
The LitCharts.com logo.
AI Tools
  • Ask LitCharts AI
  • Discussion Question Generator
  • Essay Prompt Generator
  • Quiz Question Generator
Guides Guides
  • Literature Guides
  • Poetry Guides
  • Shakespeare Translations
  • Literary Terms
Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up

Common Sense

by Thomas Paine
Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Introduction
  • 1. Of the Origin and Design of Government
  • 2. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession
  • 3. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs
  • 4. Of the Present Ability of America
  • Appendix
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Role of Government Theme Icon
    The Role of Government
  • The Case Against Monarchy Theme Icon
    The Case Against Monarchy
  • Independence vs. Dependence Theme Icon
    Independence vs. Dependence
  • Reason, Morality, and Rhetoric Theme Icon
    Reason, Morality, and Rhetoric
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Thomas Paine
  • King George III
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Parent and Child Symbol Icon
    Parent and Child
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Ethos
  • Fallacy
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Pathos
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
Previous
Quotes

Common Sense Characters

Next
Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) is the author of Common Sense. Born in England and inspired by Enlightenment political philosophy, he became an activist for American independence after moving to the colonies in 1774. Drawing inspiration… read analysis of Thomas Paine

King George III

George III (1738–1820) reigned as King of Great Britain from 1760–1820. He was king at the time that hostilities broke out between British troops and the American colonial militia in the 1770s, and was the… read analysis of King George III
Previous
Quotes
Previous
Quotes
Next
Thomas Paine
Next
Thomas Paine

Company
About Us Our Story
Support
Help Center Contact Us
Connect
Facebook Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request
Home About Contact Help
LitCharts, a Learneo, Inc. business
Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
  • AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
  • Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 50,308 quotes.
  • PDF downloads of all 2,256 LitCharts guides.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.
The LitCharts.com logo.