Recurrent theme (5)
I believe the answer is:
trope
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">recurrent theme</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for trope that I've seen before include "ironical expression" , "literary effect" , "Metaphorical use of a word or expression" , "metaphor, perhaps" , "Image, figure of speech" .)