Examples of Motif in Narrative Writing

Some of the most common symbols are the: Heart symbol. Dove symbol. Raven symbol.

Common Examples of Symbolism in Everyday Life rainbow–symbolizes hope and promise. red rose–symbolizes love and romance. four-leaf clover–symbolizes good luck or fortune. wedding ring–symbolizes commitment and matrimony.

• A repeated reference or visual of shattered glass (something in life is about to break)
• Recurring dishonest characters (to cue up the discovery of an unfaithful spouse)
• A character who constantly misplaces things (as the loss of someone or something significant is on the horizon)

A motif is a recurring narrative element with symbolic significance. If you spot a symbol, concept, or plot structure that surfaces repeatedly in the text, you’re probably dealing with a motif. They must be related to the central idea of the work, and they always end up reinforcing the author’s overall message.

Motif is a literary technique that consists of a repeated element that has symbolic significance to a literary work. The key aspect is that a motif repeats, and through this repetition helps to illuminate the dominant ideas, central themes, and deeper meaning of a story.

1 : a usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts) especially : a dominant idea or central theme Ms.

Some examples Geometric, typically repeated: Meander, palmette, rosette, gul in Oriental rugs, acanthus, egg and dart, Bead and reel, Pakudos, Sauwastika, Adinkra symbols. Figurative: Master of Animals, confronted animals, velificatio, Death and the Maiden, Three hares, Sheela na gig, puer mingens.

Allegory, a symbolic fictional narrative that conveys a meaning not explicitly set forth in the narrative. Allegory, which encompasses such forms as fable, parable, and apologue, may have meaning on two or more levels that the reader can understand only through an interpretive process.

The entire book of Romeo and Juliet is written in an allegorical style. This story is popularly known as a tragedy.

An allegory (AL-eh-goh-ree) is a story within a story. For example, the surface story might be about two neighbors throwing rocks at each other’s homes, but the hidden story would be about war between countries. Some allegories are very subtle, while others (like the rock-throwing example) can be more obvious.

An allegory falls in line with the moral of a story. While an allegory is a story, poem, or picture, it’s used to reveal a hidden meaning or message, like the moral. Allegories are exciting because they use characters and events to convey a meaning. They don’t just come right out and say it.

Here are some prominent allegory examples.

• George Orwell, Animal Farm. Animal Farm is a great example of allegory, and is often taught in high school English classes to introduce the concept.
• Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene.
• Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter.
• Aesop’s Fables.

However, allegory is a narrative, a poem or story, that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning whereas symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities. The main difference between allegory and symbolism is that allegory is a story or a poem whereas symbolism is a figure of speech.

We can distinguish between two different types of allegory: the historical or political allegory, the allegory of ideas.

What Are the Characteristics of an Allegory?

• Writer’s Values. A primary characteristic of an allegory is the infusion of the political or moral values of the writer.
• Multiple Meanings. An allegory tells a story with multiple meanings.
• Polarizing Relationships.
• Object Personification.

How to Write an Allegory

1. Start with the hidden story. What’s the underlying message you want to get across?
2. Break the hidden story down. What are the most important characters or aspects of the hidden story?
3. Pick a theme for the surface story and find correlations.