Question

What is a story’s central or unifying message?
theme
theme

genre
genre

tone
tone

plot
plot

Answer 1

The central or unifying message of a story is referred to as its **theme**. The theme encompasses the underlying ideas or messages that the author conveys through the narrative, characters, and events. It often reflects broader societal issues, human experiences, or moral lessons.

In contrast:
- **Genre** refers to the category or style of the story (such as fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery, etc.).
- **Tone** pertains to the author's attitude toward the subject or audience, which can be reflected in the language and style of the writing.
- **Plot** is the sequence of events that make up the story, including the conflict, climax, and resolution.

So, in summary, the theme is the central message of the story.