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A recurring element in a work of literature. It is usually a dominant idea or theme and can be an object, setting, or situation that has some symbolic significance. For example, in Shakespeare's ''Macbeth'', hallucinations, violence, and prophecy all act as motifs. Also, in Charlotte Bronte's ''Jane Eyre'', fire and ice are both examples of motifs. | |||
==Etymology== | |||
The term is French in origin | |||
==Works Cited== | |||
[http://cgi.sparknotes.com/hlite.mpl?words=macbeth&pd=0&page=themes.html&nfs=0&guide=%2fshakespeare%2fmacbeth ''Macbeth''] | |||
[http://cgi.sparknotes.com/hlite.mpl?pd=0&page=themes.html&nfs=0&guide=%2flit%2fjaneeyre&words=jane,eyre ''Jane Eyre''] | |||
[http://www.reference.com/browse/columbia/motif1 Reference] | |||
[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motif Merriam-Webster] | |||
[http://contemporarylit.about.com/cs/literaryterms/g/motif.htm Literary Terms] | |||
Revision as of 16:22, 16 February 2006
A recurring element in a work of literature. It is usually a dominant idea or theme and can be an object, setting, or situation that has some symbolic significance. For example, in Shakespeare's Macbeth, hallucinations, violence, and prophecy all act as motifs. Also, in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, fire and ice are both examples of motifs.
Etymology
The term is French in origin