Final answer:
Theme refers to the central idea or message in a literary work and can be expressed in a sentence or two. It is separate from the topic of the work and readers may have different interpretations of the theme.
Step-by-step explanation:
Theme refers to the central idea or message that a literary work conveys. It is not the same as the topic of the work, which refers to the subject matter or subject discussed in the work.
Some characteristics of theme include:
- Readers may have different, valid interpretations of the theme.
- The theme can usually be expressed in a sentence or two.
- The theme can usually be described in a word or phrase.
For example, in the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, one of the themes is racial prejudice. This theme can be expressed in a sentence like 'The novel explores the destructive impact of racial prejudice on society.'
Learn more about Theme in literature