Literary terms · AP English Literature, AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Motif
Motif: A recurring image, idea, word or situation in a work that helps develop its themes.
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What it means
A motif is a pattern. It might be a repeated image (water, mirrors), a repeated action (characters leaving and returning), or a repeated phrase. Each recurrence adds meaning, and changes in the motif often mark changes in the story.
A motif is defined by repetition across a work. A symbol can be a single object with representative meaning.
Example
In a novel about a family farm, repeated scenes of characters checking the sky for rain track their growing desperation and their dependence on forces beyond their control.
On the exam
Motifs are excellent evidence for the AP Lit literary argument essay because they let you connect scenes across the whole work.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- SymbolAn object, character, place or action that represents a larger idea beyond its literal meaning.
- ThemeA central insight about life or human experience that a literary work develops, stated as a claim about a topic.
- ImageryDescriptive language that appeals to the senses to create vivid experiences and convey meaning.