A recurrent image in a literary work that illustrates theme is

A recurrent image in a literary work that illustrates a theme is called a motif. A motif is a literary device that can be a word, an image, or a symbol that is repeated throughout a work of literature. It often contributes to the overall meaning or message of the work and helps to reinforce a central idea or theme. For example, in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," the mockingbird is a motif that represents innocence and the idea that it is a sin to harm something pure and innocent.