Distinguish between theme and central idea with an example from literature.

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Understanding the distinction between central idea and theme: the central idea is the text's main point about its subject; the theme is the deeper universal message about life or society revealed through that idea. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, the central idea centers on how racism shapes the town’s justice system, while the theme conveys a universal lesson about moral courage and empathy—the idea that people should be judged by character, not skin color. This shows how a specific point about a topic can illuminate a broader truth about human nature or society. The central idea provides the concrete claim the author makes, and the theme expresses the larger insight readers carry with them after reading. The correct statement matches this relationship exactly. Keep in mind that the theme isn’t always stated outright, and mood or tone aren’t the same thing as the central idea or the theme.