What is the theme in Maurice by E. M. Forster?

Sexual awareness and self discovery are themes in the book. The novel begins with Maurice receiving the birds and the bees talk from one of his teachers. Maurice finds the discussion mildly interesting but cannot reconcile it with his budding sexual awareness. When Maurice goes off to a new school with older boys who are also beginning to become aware of their sexuality, Maurice cannot become interested in the jokes and stories the other boys share. Finally, at Cambridge, Maurice finds a group of boys who appear to have the same thoughts and feelings he has.