This repetition of motifs helps to create structure for a text - it can tether parts of the story to or around a central image. Rather than an abstract idea, we’re looking for a concrete object (usually physical items, but also potentially sounds, places, actions, situations or phrases) that returns time and time again throughout a text. What Is a Motif?Ī motif is something a bit more specific. As you might be able to see, themes can require us to read between the lines because they are usually implied. Themes usually appear in interactions: for example, a parent reuniting with a child might evoke the theme of parenthood or family, an experience of discrimination might evoke the theme of prejudice or racism, a character facing a difficult choice might evoke the theme of morality or conflict, and so on. Themes appear throughout a work, and they’re often abstract ideas rather than concrete images that you can explicitly identify.
Let’s start with the broadest of the three… What Is a Theme?Ī theme is an idea or a subject that an author wants to explore. This post will take you through some definitions, give you some examples and show you how you can use them in essays too. However, even though they’re words we use all the time in our English studies, it isn’t always easy to tell the difference! Themes, motifs and symbols are different kinds of narrative elements - they’re parts of a story that help to shape its overall effect.
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