English 9 / Unit 3: Theme and Symbolism
3.4 Motif and Allegory
Notes
Authors repeat elements and build whole stories around ideas.
- A motif is a repeated image, idea or phrase that develops a theme (repeated mirrors, repeated references to hunger).
- A symbol is one thing standing for an idea; a motif is a pattern of repeated elements.
- An allegory is a story in which characters and events stand for larger ideas, often moral or political.
- A fable is a short tale, often with animals, that teaches a moral.
- Example: In a story about a family drifting apart, images of broken dishes, cracked windows and torn photos form a motif of brokenness.
Practice
A novel repeatedly mentions clocks, deadlines and the sound of ticking. This pattern is a:
A repeated image that builds meaning is a motif.
A story where animals on a farm overthrow their farmer and then become just as cruel represents real political revolutions. This story is a(n):
The characters and events stand for larger political ideas.
How is a motif different from a single symbol?
Motifs repeat throughout a work.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.