Motif

=Definition=

Simply put a motif is a reoccurring theme or idea that is found throughout a piece of work. It is sometimes confused with theme but the two are not interchangeable. While theme is a universal idea that is found throughout a piece it is usually expressed with a complete sentence. Contrastingly a motif is expressed through a single word or phrase. Motifs may be found in literature, theater, movies, and in many other types of media.

Two of the central motifs within //The Plot Against America// are family endurance and the loss of innocence. While there could be arguments for many other motifs in this book, these are two of the most repeated and most applicable to the story. Family endurance is strongly emphasized from the very first page all the way through to the last. At the beginning, the narrator emphasizes the family's low income and feeble qualifications: "My father... an insurance agent with a grade school education, earning a little under fifty dollars a week..."(p.1). Later though, on page 334, the narrator describes his mother as "remarkable" as she stayed strong through "all those blows, insults, and surprises intent on weakening and frightening the Jews..." The two Roth parents and their sons, in the end, stay bonded and strong even with all the Jewish discrimination, riots near their home, and a strong anti-Semite as their country's president. This family endurance is reiterated throughout the entire story and readers cannot mistake its significance. A child's loss of innocence is another significant motif. Philip does a lot of growing up during the years of the Lindbergh presidency. While a reader can argue whether or not this happened to him too early, no reader can argue that it unmistakably did happen. Examples of this are found throughout the entire chapter titled "The Stump." While Alvin's leg is healing, Philip has to learn to be the adult in the situation. He takes care of Alvin morning and night to ensure his well-being. However, at Philip's young age, he should be the one being constantly taken care of. Philip self-declares his status of growing up on page 172 in the line, "I'd never before had to grow up at a pace like this." Throughout the novel, this boy is exposed to insults, hatred, the impact of war, an amputated limb, his own father and cousin fighting nearly to the death, and his strong mother being brought to tears on more than one occasion. All these events help to stress this motif of the transtion from child to adult.

Motifs are not limited to only literature like this novel we read in class, however. They can be found in other books, movies, and even music sometimes.

As an example of how motif is used in media, the shows 'America's Next Top Model' or 'Project Runway' have imbedded the word "fierce" into the overall fashion world. While watching the Style channel on television or watching commercials, this word has definitely made an impact and been a reoccuring theme. It's used to describe a style that is very edgy, but creative and overall excellent, and anyone who's familiar with the fashion world knows it.

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Another example of motif can be found in the movie __Jaws__. In this movie the motif can be heard when imminent danger is approaching. This particular piece of music can be heard multiple times throughout the movie and always represents the same general occurrence, an attack.

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Still another example of motif can be found in the movie __The Sixth Sense__. In the movie there is the motif of reoccurring red objects. A red object appears before a dead person is sighted.

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