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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Motif, or something else?

Asked by: Jennifer Williams

If something is mentioned once to allude to something else, it’s a symbol. If something is mentioned several times throughout a story, it’s a motif.

What is a motif similar to?

Confusion always occurs to similar terms, and people consider both the items the same. As we all know, both the terms motif and theme are very similar to each other, so many people consider both the terms the same.

What is the difference between motif and symbolism?

While a symbol might occur once in literature to signify an idea or an emotion, a motif can be an element or idea that repeats throughout that piece of literature.

What is difference between motif and theme?

The difference between a Motif and a Theme

A theme is the underlying dominant idea in every written piece, while a motif is a repetition of certain patterns, ideas or images to reinforce the main theme.

What is considered a motif?

Motif is a literary technique that consists of a repeated element that has symbolic significance to a literary work. Sometimes, a motif is a recurring image. Other times, it’s a repeated word, phrase, or topic expressed in language. A motif can be a recurring situation or action.

Is death a theme or motif?

A motif must be repeated throughout a text to be considered a motif. However, the motif may appear in various forms. For example, “death” could be a motif in a literary work.

What are examples of themes?

Examples. Some common themes in literature are “love,” “war,” “revenge,” “betrayal,” “patriotism,” “grace,” “isolation,” “motherhood,” “forgiveness,” “wartime loss,” “treachery,” “rich versus poor,” “appearance versus reality,” and “help from other-worldly powers.”

Is love a theme or motif?

While they are very similar — both weave through a story — the easiest way to differentiate the two is to remember a motif is something tangible (like the green lantern or Shakespeare’s catchphrase) while a theme is abstract (such as feelings of love or a character’s underlying loneliness).

Can something be a symbol and a motif?

A symbol can be a motif if it is repeated at various intervals throughout a work of literature.

What is the difference between a motif and an archetype?

1 Answer. Motif is a recurring element within a story, while archetype brings in elements based on what we know or expect.

What are types of motifs?

Types of Motif



  • Plant motif.
  • Floral motif (flower)
  • Traditional motif.
  • Geometrical motif.
  • Abstract motif.

How do you identify motifs?

If there was an object or idea that kept popping up in the text, that’s your motif. The second way is to work forward. You first look for the objects or ideas that appear over and over again. Then you link them to a theme.

What images can be used as a motif?

A motif is a symbolic image or idea that appears frequently in a story. Motifs can be symbols, sounds, actions, ideas, or words. Motifs strengthen a story by adding images and ideas to the theme present throughout the narrative.

What are motifs in art?

A motif is a recurring fragment, theme or pattern that appears in a work of art.

How do you create a motif?

How to Come Up with Motifs in Your Novel



  1. Generating Ideas for Motifs. Once you work to develop the themes in your novel, you can create some motifs. …
  2. Come Up with an Object. Think about your protagonist. …
  3. Move from Object to Concept. …
  4. Reinforce the Motif. …
  5. Freewriting and Word Association.

What is a motif in Romeo and Juliet?

Night-time

The combination of light and dark makes an interesting motif in Romeo and Juliet. But for our young lovers, the night-time itself is an important motif as well. The evening hours holds all of the significant moments for Romeo and Juliet. They meet; they pledge their love; they elope; they commit suicide…

What is a motif in literature?

A motif is a repeated pattern—an image, sound, word, or symbol that comes back again and again within a particular story.

Is love a motif in Romeo and Juliet?

Love is naturally the play’s dominant and most important theme. The play focuses on romantic love, specifically the intense passion that springs up at first sight between Romeo and Juliet. In Romeo and Juliet, love is a violent, ecstatic, overpowering force that supersedes all other values, loyalties, and emotions.



Is death a motif in Romeo and Juliet?

A recurring theme in the work of Romeo and Juliet is the theme of death. Through the whole play of Romeo and Juliet, there are a total of six deaths including Romeo’s mother. Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare uses the theme of death to keep the play moving along.

What does Romeo say before he dies?

I will kiss thy lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, To make die with a restorative.

What does Romeo say when Juliet dies?

Summary: Act 5, scene 1

Romeo comments that nothing can be ill in the world if Juliet is well. Balthasar replies that nothing can be ill, then, for Juliet is well: she is in heaven, found dead that morning at her home. Thunderstruck, Romeo cries out, “Then I defy you, stars” (5.1. 24).



Who is to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death?

In the play Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, the three characters to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are Romeo’s and Juliet’s parents, Juliet’s Maid, and Mercutio. The first characters to blame are Romeo’s and Juliet’s parents.

How did the feud killed Romeo and Juliet?

Tybalt is the character most to blame for the tragic events in Romeo and Juliet because he killed Mercutio, which led to Romeo ‘s banishment, which then led to the suicides of Romeo and Juliet.

Why is it Tybalt’s fault?

The first reason is that Tybalt is to blame is that he killed Mercutio and was killed by Romeo. The second reason is that Romeo was banished because he killed Tybalt. The third reason is that Juliet would have never faked her death if Romeo was never banished.

Who gave Romeo the poison?

the poor apothecary

Romeo buys poison from the poor apothecary, which he plans to take to Juliet’s tomb and then drink himself. Here, he claims that the money he uses to pay for the poison is a type of poison itself, as money has been the cause of more deaths than the actual poison he bought ever has.



Why is Paris at Juliet’s grave?

Paris is at Juliet’s grave to mourn her loss. He is placing flowers at the entrance of the tomb.

Who is buried in the tomb when Juliet wakes up?

111–112). He kisses Juliet, drinks the poison, kisses Juliet again, and dies. Just then, Friar Lawrence enters the churchyard. He encounters Balthasar, who tells him that Romeo is in the tomb.