Final answer:
In fiction, a theme is a central idea that resonates universally and is implicit in the text, discovered through analysis of conflict and repeated ideas.
Step-by-step explanation:
In literature, a theme is a central, unifying idea that recurs throughout a text and provides a broad statement on humanity, society, life, or the universe. When determining the characteristics of a theme in a work of fiction, two statements are most accurate:
- A theme expresses an idea that applies not only to the story itself but universally.
- A theme is not explicitly stated in a text but revealed through elements such as conflict and repeated ideas.
Therefore, a theme goes beyond the narrative to make a statement that readers can apply to their own lives or the world at large, and it is often uncovered through analysis of various literary elements.