Lecture 5 - Themes and Motifs

Question 1

Theme

Answer 1

Meaning of a work in a connotative (suggestive) rather than denotative (explicit) sense

Question 2

Motif/ its use

Answer 2

• a repeated idea/ pattern of action
• used for the development of key themes, characterisation and plot structure

Question 3

Métis

Answer 3

Cunning intelligence

Question 4

How to identify themes (4)

Answer 4

• dominant/ recurring ideas
• part vs whole ( how a particular passage fits into a larger whole)
• constituent elements ( character speech/ imagery - if they highlight overarching concerns)
• questions in the narrative

Question 5

How to come to conclusions about themes and characters/ what to look for

Answer 5

• the detail of the passage
• repeated narrative patterns
• different functions of similar motifs
• balance of detail and context