Final answer:
An author might develop the theme 'hard work pays off' by employing motifs and character conflicts that showcase the benefits of hard work and how it leads to success. Motifs such as symbolic places or objects can illustrate change and growth, while character conflicts can directly portray a protagonist's journey to overcome obstacles through diligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
An author might develop the theme that hard work pays off through various literary techniques. One effective method is through the use of motifs, which are recurring elements that through repetition signal something of significance in the text.
For instance, a park in a story could symbolize a character's childhood memories, and if the author repeatedly mentions this park before it's replaced by a housing complex, this could illustrate a theme about the transition from childhood to adulthood and the hard work required to move through life's stages.
Another way an author might develop this theme is by creating a character conflict that requires hard work to overcome. Using Mark Twain's anecdote as an example, the message conveyed might be that the character's reliance on their knowledge and training - representative of their hard work - ultimately leads to success despite challenges and self-doubt.
Additional examples might include a story about a businessman who believes hard work is its own reward, or Davis and Moore's social theory that societies reward harder and more important work with higher prestige, suggesting that hard work leads to greater success.