What do you call the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work?

Prepare for the Keystone Literature Content Exam with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question is accompanied by helpful hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Get exam-ready today!

The correct choice, theme, refers to the central idea or underlying message in a literary work. It encompasses the broader concepts or insights about life, society, or human nature that the author intends to convey through the narrative. Theme can often be identified by examining the characters, events, and conflicts in the story, showing how they contribute to a deeper understanding of the universal issues being explored.

In contrast, plot refers to the sequence of events or actions that occur in the story, detailing how the narrative progresses. Motif is a recurring element, such as a symbol or idea, that appears throughout the work to reinforce the theme or contribute to its development. Conflict involves the challenges or struggles faced by the characters, which can drive the plot and highlight the theme but does not define the underlying message itself. Thus, theme is the best term to describe the main idea or deeper meaning within a literary work.

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