Motif in Literature

Motif in Literature

Why does the author keep bringing up the color red, and why is it always raining? In this lesson, we will learn about the literary device of the motif, which is a recurring symbol that conveys a symbolic meaning.

What is a Motif?

A motif is a recurring symbol which takes on a figurative meaning. We see them in books, films, and poems. In fact, almost every text commonly uses the literary device of the motif. A motif can be almost anything: an idea, an object, a concept, a character archetype, the weather, a color, or even a statement. Motifs are used to establish a theme or a certain mood; they have a symbolic meaning.

Motif Continued

It's typically pretty clear when a writer is using a motif. They're not usually associated with hidden meanings because the writer wants you to recognize them. They play a role in defining the makeup of a narrative. Think about the fairy tale and its almost endless list of motifs: happily ever after, the handsome prince, the damsel in distress, the fairy godmother, the wicked witch, the evil stepmother, talking animals, magic fairies, and ogres.

Motif Continued

Consider the popular fairy tale 'Snow White' and how it uses a mirror as a prominent motif throughout the story. Snow White's wicked stepmother, the queen, is constantly checking herself out in the mirror, even asking it: 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?' The trouble begins when Snow White turns seven and the mirror informs the queen that she is no longer the prettiest because Snow White has taken over that title. The queen's face goes green to indicate her jealousy and envy.

Motif Continued

Mirrors are all about letting a person know how others see you. They, in essence, represent the honest truth, plain and clear. When the queen's mirror informs her that she is just second best, she finally gets a real glimpse of herself and it enrages her to no end.

Popular Examples of Motifs in Literature

Here are a few classic examples of motifs from three 20th-century books.

he Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900)

Think about the trials and tribulations of Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the concept of the journey as motif. Dorothy gets swept up in a cyclone and lands in the strangest of lands, far, far away from Kansas. During her journey, she has to grow as a person and learn how to trust herself so she can survive and hopefully get back home. In fact, everyone she meets on the yellow brick road - the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodsman - are all on a journey. The Lion seeks courage, the Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Woodman desires a heart, and Dorothy just wants to go home.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954)

A plane crashes on an island. The survivors are all young boys. A power struggle quickly emerges as survival trumps polite society. The boys find a conch shell. An object is one of the most popular examples of a motif. If a boy has the conch shell in his hand, he has the floor. It's his turn to speak. We see the conch shell a lot throughout the story; it quickly represents order and communication. When the shell is destroyed, order turns to chaos, and the lines of communication completely break down as do the rules of society.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (1996)

The line, 'I know this because Tyler knows this,' is stated by the unnamed narrator several times throughout Palahniuk's novel Fight Club. The quote as a motif turns out to be especially important in Fight Club because it is a foreshadowing of the twist ending of the novel. The narrator talks about all the intricate details of Tyler's life: where he works, how he spoils customer's food, and how he lives. Of course, as we find out at the end of the novel, Tyler Durden does not even exist. He was only the narrator's delusion, an alter ego made up to fight the consumer-centric, supposedly anti-masculine of the modern American male.

Lesson Summary

A motif is a recurring symbol. It is a common literary device that helps to establish a theme or mood. Motifs can be almost anything: a repeated quote like in Fight Club, an object like in Lord of the Flies, or a theme like in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. They are especially prevalent in fairy tales. Think about all the stories that feature a handsome prince or a wicked evil stepmother.

Multiple Choice

Why is the line 'I know this because Tyler knows this' a significant motif in the novel Fight Club?

• Because Tyler forms the group Fight Club

• Because Tyler loses his memory

• Because it foreshadows the twist-ending

• Because Tyler is really intelligent

• Because we find out that Tyler is dead

Multiple Choice

What does the motif of the conch shell represent in Lord of the Flies?

• Danger

• Fear

• Order and communication

• Happiness and fun

• Disobedience

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

• A repeated quote can be an example of a motif.

• Motifs are usually pretty obvious to spot.

• The mirror is a motif in Snow White.

• The concept of 'happily ever after' is an example of a motif.

• Motifs are only used in books.

Multiple Choice

A motif is:

• The message of the story

• A recurring symbol which takes on a figurative meaning

• The plot of a story

• The setting of a story

Multiple Choice

Which of the following motifs is NOT typically associated with the fairy tale?

• The wicked stepmother

• Talking animals

• The handsome prince

• Happily ever after

• Deserts, or largre open spaces

Open Ended

What is a Motif that occurs in the Children of Time. Explain what it is and what it communicates.