Hatrack River Forum: Literary term help

This is topic Literary term help in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

I am trying to remember the name of a term which describes when a writer or poet uses an image throughtout their writing.

I don't even know if it is a conscious thing.

Charlotte Bronte had a thing about doorways. If you ever read Villette, check that out.

Is there a name/word/term for this? It is driving me nuts trying to think of it.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

Is this it?

quote:
Motif: (Also known as Motiv or Leitmotiv.) A theme, character type, image, Metaphor, or other verbal element that recurs throughout a single work of literature or occurs in a number of different works over a period of time.
For example, the various manifestations of the color white in Herman Melville's Moby Dick is a "specific" motif, while the trials of star-crossed lovers is a "conventional" motif from the literature of all periods.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Thank you!

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

*takes a bow*

Helps that I was taking English Lit this semester.

Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :

What's the difference between motif and leitmotif?

Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :

See, English Lit is good for something. :)

Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :

Leitmotif comes from the German term Leitmotiv (leading motif).

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but as I understand it, Leitmotif is most properly applied to the major motif of the work whereas there can be several diffent motifs in a work.

Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :

Yeats & roses.

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

Leitmotif has fewer calories, too.

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :

Pop - you'll end up like my mother. Please stop.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Hey, pop, you'll like this. And Liz, too.

I was talking to my fencing coach last night about what's going on with me medically (since it does affect my fencing to some degree) and I told him that the doc said that if I had acute leukemia, I'd already be dead.

So he said, "What if it's an ugly leukemia?"

Now, I got the joke. But I didn't think it was funny. So I ignored it.

He felt he had to explain. "You know a cute leukem--."

"I GOT it. I ignored it, since acknowledging it only encourages you."

>_<

...and I also have a Glossary of Literary Terms I got in one of my classes in college and have used many, many times.

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Papa Moose:
Leitmotif has fewer calories, too.

I was going to make that joke, but then I decided against it for good reason.

Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :

Doesn't leitmotif usually refer to music, where there is a main theme in an opera or symphony that leads the rest? I guess it might refer to literature too; I just haven't heard it used with literature.

Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :

Brinestone:

Yes.

Leitmotif is widely-used in music scholarship, literary studies, and, more recently, film studies.

EDIT: It's also used somewhat in art history.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

"I GOT it. I ignored it, since acknowledging it only encourages you."

Mack, I take a-fence at that.

Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Elizabeth:
Mack, I take a-fence at that.

Oooh, you're really stretching that chain link, now, aren't you?

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! [Mad]

Posted by dropofTapioca (Member # 7867) on :

quote:
Originally posted by advice for robots:
See, English Lit is good for something.

um, for talking about English Lit?

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :

Don't forget that it's also good for teaching English lit so that others can talk about it.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Mack wrote: "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Mack, the correct response would have been: Curses! Foiled again!

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Mack, never criticize someone with a sharp pointy weapon unless your is bigger, or you know how to use it better. (Honest, this sounded less naughty when I thought of it)

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

My coach wasn't carrying a weapon at the time. [Big Grin]

*ignores puns*

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Mack, you really missed the point of Dan's post.