Final answer:
A strong theme is broader than the story and provides a complete-sentence statement about humanity, life, or the universe, which resonates beyond the narrative itself.
Step-by-step explanation:
A characteristic of a strong theme is that it's broader than the story. A theme represents the story's underlying message or main idea that provides insight into humanity, life, or universal concepts and is typically explored through various elements such as plot, setting, characters, and structure.
It's often expressed as a complete sentence rather than a single word, as it aims to convey an abstract idea about the human condition, society, or life that resonates beyond the scope of the narrative. To identify a theme, analyzing motifs, or recurring elements and symbols within the story, can be quite helpful. These motifs, through their repetition and symbolism, guide the reader towards the larger messages the author intends to communicate.