Final answer:
The resolution ties together the narrative's major conflict and reveals the story's theme(s), which may be indicated through repeated motifs. Reflection on the conflict's resolution or a significant revelation in the resolution helps to clarify the theme. Mark Twain’s conflict within his story develops the theme that emphasizes self-reliance and confidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The resolution of a story is pivotal in revealing and reinforcing the central theme of a narrative. After escalating through the exposition and rising action, and peaking at the climax, the narrative's tension begins to unravel in the falling action and leads into the resolution. It is during this final part of the story that the theme shines through, often through the resolution of the major conflict that drives the narrative. It is not uncommon for certain narrative elements or motifs to be repeated within the story, which could suggest a theme or multiple themes consistent throughout the narrative.
For instance, a resolution might provide a reflection that examines the broader implications of the theme or lessons learned from the narrative's events. These insights can be explicit or implicit, and they may follow a significant revelation during the story's resolution. This could be an understanding of a life lesson, a change in the character's perspective, or newfound knowledge about the general human condition. The author's division of the story into parts, chapters, or sections also contributes to how themes are understood, reinforcing or contrasting one another, which assists readers in grasping the plot and theme correlation.
Conflicts within a story, such as in the Mark Twain excerpt provided, are instrumental in theme development. The way Twain crafts the conflict allows him to convey the message that one must rely on knowledge and training rather than doubt themselves. This exploration of internal struggle reflects a theme of self-reliance and confidence, which can have a significant impact on the readers' interpretation of the story.