Question

Which best defines a universal theme?

Answer 1

The theme of a story is the underlying message.
A theme can be a universal truth or a generalization about some aspect of life
To determine the theme of a story, ask yourself, "What does the author want me to learn or know?" Your answer should be a "big idea" that can stand on its own away from the story.
Many stories have more than one theme. To be valid, a statement of theme should be supported by evidence from the text.