Motif is also commonly applied in design, where it typically refers to a single or repeated pattern or color. A piece of fabric might have a floral motif; a room may have a black and white motif.

Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book or play. For example, one of the central themes in Romeo and Juliet is that love is a paradox …

Sep 13, 2025 · In this post, we’ll look at what a motif is (and what it's not), examine motif examples in action, and explore how you can incorporate motifs into your own writing. What is …

MOTIF definition: a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work. See examples of motif used in a sentence.

A motif is a recurring element – an image, object, idea, color, sound, or even a specific type of event – that has symbolic significance in a story. It is not the plot itself, nor the main theme, …

The Encyclopédie de la Pléiade defines a motif as a "melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic cell ", whereas the 1958 Encyclopédie Fasquelle maintains that it may contain one or more cells, …

MOTIF meaning: 1. a pattern or design: 2. an idea that is used many times in a piece of writing or music: 3. a…. Learn more.