What are types of function of characterization? How do you defined theme and how to find it out in prose ?

Characterization is a literary device used to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story. It is a means for the author to show the character’s personality. Characterization can be direct, as when an author tells readers what a character is like (e.g. “George was cunning and greedy.”) or indirect, as when an author shows what a character is like by portraying his or her actions, speech, or thoughts (e.g. “On the crowded subway, George slipped his hand into the man’s coat pocket and withdrew the wallet, undetected.”).

A theme is a central topic a text treats. Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject". The most common contemporary understanding of theme is an idea or point that is central to a story, which can often be summed in a single word (e.g. love, death, betrayal).

To find the theme in a prose, you can follow these steps:

1. Understand the Characters: The characters in a story are usually a key to understanding the theme. Look at their actions, motivations, and feelings to start getting a sense of the theme.

2. Look at the Plot: The events that happen in a story are another clue to its theme. The plot is what happens, but the theme is what the story is about.

3. Identify the Conflict: Most stories have some kind of conflict, and how it is resolved usually points to the theme.

4. Consider the Setting: The setting of a story — the time, place, and social environment — can also help indicate the theme.

5. Reflect on the Title: Sometimes, the title of the story will give you a clue to the theme.

6. Summarize the Story: By summarizing the story in your own words, you can often get a sense of what the theme is.

Remember, a theme is not just one word, but it's a statement about life or human nature. We might say "love" is a theme in a story, but a more specific theme might be "Love can make people take risks."