Final answer:
A theme in literature is an idea or message conveyed through the narrative and can be interpreted differently by authors and broken into major and minor ideas. However, a theme is not the subject of a piece of literature, but a deeper message conveyed through the subject.
Step-by-step explanation:
A theme in literature is an overarching idea or message that is expressed through the narrative. It's important to acknowledge that a theme can indeed be carried throughout a work of literature, potentially appearing in various forms or instances. Interpreting a theme may vary among authors as they each have unique perspectives and writing styles. Furthermore, themes can often be broken down into major and minor ideas, providing depth to a literary piece.
The statement that 'a theme is the subject of a piece of literature' does NOT accurately describe a theme. The subject of the piece is usually a narrower concept, like love, war, or deception, while the theme is the deeper message or insight about life or human nature that the writer wants to convey through that subject. So the subject of a literary piece can contribute to a theme, but they are not the same thing.
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