Understanding Literary Themes, Symbols, and Motifs, Exams of Literature

Download Understanding Literary Themes, Symbols, and Motifs and more Exams Literature in PDF only on Docsity! Theme, Symbols, and Motifs Theme The main idea or message of a literary work. A universal truth or something nearly everyone can feel (i.e. suffering, loss, love) Themes are analyzed by many literary terms including symbols and motifs. Some other literary devices include metaphors, imagery, mood and tone. Common themes in literature The individual’s relationship with and obligation to society… character vs. society Individual’s journey to understanding him/herself… character vs. self Individual’s relationship with and obligation to nature… character vs. nature Exercise: Try to write a thematic thesis for “Battle Royal” or “Hills Like White Elephants” Other Common Themes How justice and injustice are decided What it means to be a hero or antihero What it means to be a survivor An individual’s experience with alienation Symbols The practice of representing things by means of attributing meaning objects, events, or relationships. Symbols can be a person, place, thing, or idea that stands for something else. They are used deliberately to reinforce meaning. For example, a letter may be simply a letter, but it can also be seen as a symbol of freedom, education, equality or inequality. Motifs A recurring image, word, phrase, or action that tends to create unity within a story Motifs, along with other literary devices, help form a theme in a given work A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or fragmentary phrase. Motif Examples Clothing Seasons Colors Death Supernatural Adversaries Education Wishes Abortion Silence Powerful Lies Deep Sleeps Witches Trickery Illness Consequences of Greed Flowers/plants Exercise: Name at least one motif found in one story so far.