Question

which characteristic is true of a theme? it is a summary of the plot. it is not stated by the author outright. it is explained by the author. it is not linked to symbols.

Explanation:

To determine the correct characteristic of a theme, we analyze each option:

• "It is a summary of the plot": A theme is not a plot summary; it's the underlying message, so this is incorrect.
• "It is not stated by the author outright": Themes are often implied (not directly stated) and require readers to infer from the text, characters, and symbols, so this is correct.
• "It is explained by the author": Authors typically don't explicitly explain themes; they are revealed through the narrative, so this is incorrect.
• "It is not linked to symbols": Themes are often connected to symbols (symbols help convey themes), so this is incorrect.

Answer:

It is not stated by the author outright.