Final answer:
Themes in a novel are subjective and can vary among readers. While providing broad statements about life or humanity, themes aren't explicitly stated but rather derived through careful analysis. Novels can have multiple themes, not limited to any genre.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement about a novel's theme is that themes are subjective and vary among readers. A theme is a unifying idea behind a story that connects plot points, conflicts, and characters to a major idea, often providing a broad statement about humanity, life, or our universe. Themes are not necessarily limited to any single genre like fantasy or science fiction, nor are they explicitly stated by the author. Instead, themes are derived from the text through analysis of theme(s), examining how the characters change, and considering the problems or ideas presented. Additionally, novels can contain multiple themes that may interact and point toward a central message.
To illustrate, if analyzing the theme of friendship in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one would look at the relationship dynamics and evolution between Huck and Jim throughout the novel. This analysis helps to uncover the implied theme which, in this case, could be interpreted as a message on the transformative power of companionship. Importantly, themes must be expressed as complete sentences that encapsulate their meaning fully instead of singular words.