What type of theme is considered "explicit"?

A theme is considered "explicit" when it is clearly stated in the text, allowing the reader to easily identify the author's intended message. This type of theme leaves little to ambiguity or interpretation, as it is directly presented through dialogue, narrative description, or character actions. For example, if a story clearly expresses a theme about the importance of friendship through a character's statements or through specific plot developments, that theme is explicit.

In contrast, themes that are ambiguous, open to interpretation, or suggested implicitly require readers to read between the lines or analyze the text more deeply to uncover the underlying messages. Similarly, a non-existent theme means there is no discernible message present, which does not apply to the concept of an explicit theme. Therefore, the answer that identifies a theme as clearly stated aligns perfectly with the definition of an explicit theme in literature.