Select the correct answer.
Which statement best defines a theme in a short story?

A.
A theme helps reveal the order in which events occur in a story.
B.
A theme is the use of an object to represent a larger idea.
C.
A theme is the topic of a story, which the author develops through a particular tone and mood.
D.
A theme helps build tension between the characters in a story.
E.
A theme is the central message, moral, or lesson conveyed using characters, setting, and plot.