which statement is a theme? the story teaches the importance of devoted friends. gilgamesh delivers an encouraging speech to enkidu. when humbaba is defeated, the friends rejoice. true friends remain loyal despite hardship.

Quick Scoop When analyzing a story like The Epic of Gilgamesh or any literary text, identifying the theme means finding the deeper message or universal lesson the story conveys — not just what happens in it.

Which Statement Is a Theme?

Let’s look at the options one by one:

1. "The story teaches the importance of devoted friends."
   ✅ This expresses a theme. It states an idea about life or human experience — the value of loyalty and devotion in friendship — rather than describing specific actions.

2. "Gilgamesh delivers an encouraging speech to Enkidu."
   ❌ This is a plot event , describing something that happens in the story.

3. "When Humbaba is defeated, the friends rejoice."
   ❌ This is also a specific event , not a message or lesson.

4. "True friends remain loyal despite hardship."
   ✅ Another correct example of a theme statement. It generalizes the story’s message about enduring friendship through difficulties.

💡 Summary

Among the statements listed, the themes are:

• The story teaches the importance of devoted friends.
• True friends remain loyal despite hardship.

Both summarize the moral lesson rather than retell the story. Answer: ✅ "True friends remain loyal despite hardship." (This is the clearest expression of a theme.) Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.