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The Study of Motifs

The Study of Motifs. Honors Sophomore English. Motif Definition. A recurring object, image, idea, phrase, or structure Can occur in music, art, literature, film. Motifs Across Literature/Film. Good vs. Evil. Motifs Across Literature/Film. The Hero’s Journey.

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The Study of Motifs

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  1. The Study of Motifs Honors Sophomore English

  2. Motif Definition A recurring object, image, idea, phrase, or structure Can occur in music, art, literature, film

  3. Motifs Across Literature/Film Good vs. Evil

  4. Motifs Across Literature/Film The Hero’s Journey

  5. Motifs, Music, and Movies • Music – short musical idea • Returns • Same, slower, faster, new key, inverted… • Movies • Images, musical themes Connection to Big Idea

  6. Motifs in Artwork Still life

  7. Edward Hopper “Nighthawks”

  8. Motif?

  9. Motif?

  10. Motif? Jersey shore My super sweet 16

  11. Motif? Jay Z’s Music Kanye West’s music

  12. Motif Examples in Literature • Lennie is METAPHORICALLY compared many times to animals (horse, bear). • Helps define his character

  13. Motif Examples in Literature • IMAGES of WINDOWS in several vignettes • Helps reinforce the sense of longing in these characters, desire for escape

  14. Motif Examples in Literature • LIGHT and DARK IMAGES • “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon…” • Is it the nightingale or the lark they hear the morning after their wedding night? • Helps contribute to the idea that they are from opposing worlds, and shall never be together

  15. Symbol VS. Motif • A SYMBOL is a tangible object that clearly stands for an abstract idea • Dove = Peace • Rose = Love • Star of David = Jewish faith • Ring = marriage • A motif can also be a tangible object, but does not clearly stand for something on its own. • The object has meaning because of the way the characters interact with it. • It is repeated in the work.

  16. Symbol VS. Motif • SYMBOLS: • Mockingbird • Dog with Rabies • MOTIFS: • Object: tree with the knothole • Idea: loss of innocence

  17. The Tricky Part Motifs that are objects can take on symbolic significance, so the line between the two can become blurry. When a motif has symbolic significance, it is usually an INVENTED symbol by the author, not a conventional or immediately recognizable symbol.

  18. Tracking Motifs Over the weekend, read Chapters 7-8of The Catcher in the Rye On your own paper, write down any examples of repeating objects, images, ideas, concepts, or structures For one of those, write down what you predict might be the bigger idea associated with it. We will share your findings on Monday

  19. The Catcher in the Rye “It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks. I saw it in the window of this sports store when we got out of the subway, just after I noticed I’d lost all the goddam foils” (17). “I swung the old peak way around to the back – very corny, I’ll admit, but I liked it that way. I looked good in it that way” (18). “I took itoff and looked at it. I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. ‘This is a people shooting hat,’ I said. ‘I shoot people in this hat’” (22).

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