Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 7 AIL 0641 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Motif
Captions available
The idea
A motif is an element that recurs through a work and accumulates meaning by recurring. The glossary has no headword for it. A motif differs from a symbol in requiring repetition: one occurrence can be symbolic, but a motif is only a motif the second time.
In practice
It becomes a motif by returning.
Where people slip
One occurrence cannot be a motif.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it