1. Motif
The second tier of literary interpretation.
Symbol
Motif
Theme

2. Symbol Gatsby: Green Light His yellow car East and West Egg
Remember: A symbol is anything that is itself, but also represents another thing, such as an idea or emotion.
Gatsby:
Green Light
His yellow car
East and West Egg
Valley of Ash
Crucible:
Mary’s Poppet
The Judge’s Gavel
The gallows

3. Motif
A motif is a repeating pattern, concept or idea. In art, it might look like this:

4. Motif
In literature: a motif is an element or idea that repeats throughout that piece of literature. A motif could be expressed by a collection of related symbols. For example, the motif of fragmentation (of a family, for instance) could come from several symbols that appear in a book:
shattered glass
an unfaithful spouse
a runaway (pet, teen, car)
A motif is the same idea over and over again, but perhaps shown in different ways, through different symbols.

5. But, a motif can be represented in a number of other ways too, such as a contrast, like "light and dark:
shadows (shades of darkness)
a candle (a light in the darkness)
storm clouds (temporary darkness)
a ray of sunshine (emerging from darkness)
a tunnel (through the darkness)
Or, a scene or reference:
The children Janie plays with as a child
The school yard kids
The porch-sitters

6. Motif
Just like the repeating pattern in this graphic, Motif is a repeated idea or concept in a literary work.
Crucible:
Powerful vs. Powerless
False ideology
Reputation / Integrity
Gatsby:
Wealth/poverty
Time
Corruption
What are you seeing is the common factor in each one of these slides? Possible answers: curves, symmetry, pattern
In each one a design is repeated, it may be moved or flipped or a different color but you see the same basic shape again and again. This is connected to a motif. You see a pattern, a repetition of ideas or symbolic figures. And what is symbolism again? Let’s go back and review, because you really need to understand symbolism if you’re going to identify the motif in pieces of literature.

7. Symbols and other structures are used to create motifs
Symbols and other structures are used to create motifs. Motifs are then used to build the theme, or larger message, of a text.
When you encounter a motif such as "light and dark" in a book, you should think about a message that the author is trying to send about life.
The light and dark of a story might tell us:
Love survives death
Life renews itself
Knowledge conquers fear

8. What motifs have we seen so far?

9. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Community
Individuality/Independence
Race/Racism
Spirituality/Folklore/Religion

10. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Symbols
The porch
The Pear Tree
The gate
Motif
Community
The porch sitters, Janie’s early companions and her school enemies are all examples of community, both good and bad. The pear tree and the gate are symbols of things that impact community by offering a chance to escape it.