Motif

Recurring symbol, theme, idea, phrase in a

piece of work

Definition
Literature
Art
Music

Can be found in…

TKaM
◦ small town life
Fairy tales
◦ good versus evil
Shakespeare
◦ nature(used a symbolic comparison)
Poe’s poem “The Raven”
◦ a version of the word “more”

Examples in Literature
Recurring brush strokes:
◦ series of dots in Seurat’s work
Recurring use of color:
◦ Red in Matisse
◦ Blue in Picasso’s “blue period.”
Recurring image:
◦ The blue dog in Rodrigue’s work

Examples in Art
Rap music
◦ Sampling
◦ Political oppression
Country music
◦ Rural life
◦ America
◦ heartache
Metal
◦ The “shredded” guitar

Examples in Music
Can you think of other motifs in
literature, art, or music?
Religion(specifically Catholicism)
Light and heavy/dark
Astronomy (sun, moon, stars, etc)
Do you pick up on any other motifs?

Look for these motifs in RJ