Question

The overriding idea in any piece of fiction is known as its

Answer 1

Controlling Idea/Theme.

There can be many ideas that can be presented within a passage; however, the idea that is of most importance (the overriding idea) in a passage is called the theme. The theme can also often be referred to as the controlling idea. Thus, it is the controlling idea of a passage that is dealt with and recurs throughout a passage.