Aliterary theme is defined as

a. the series of events that construct a tale.
b. the message a text conveys about a topic.
c. the location where the text takes place.
d. the authors opinion of previous expiriences.

B) The message a text conveys about a topic.

Explanation: In literature, the theme is the underlying message of a story, it is  what critical belief about life is the author trying to convey in the writing of a novel, play, short story or poem. Usually this belief, or idea, is universal and transcends cultural barriers. From the given options, the one that represents the definition of a literary theme, is the corresponding to option B: The message a text conveys about a topic.

A reader can determine the theme of a piece of literature by considering a character’s growth, the author’s tone, and the effect of the piece on the reader

The theme refers to the central idea or an underlying thought in a work of literature. It can be said to refer to the ideas that the writer wants to present through a subject.

To identify the theme in a literature one need to be familiar with the plot, the characterization, and the primary conflict. Then we identify the subject of the story and identify the truth and insights about it of the subject which declares the theme of the story.

Hence, a literary theme is defined as the message a text conveys about a topic.

they fear for their lives