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Theme Symbolism Motif Presentation

The document discusses the concepts of theme, symbolism, and motifs in literature and art. It defines theme as the main idea or message, symbolism as the use of symbols to represent ideas, and motifs as recurring elements that create unity. It also provides examples of common themes, symbols, and motifs found in various media.

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Evelyn Azbell
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30 views8 pages

Theme Symbolism Motif Presentation

The document discusses the concepts of theme, symbolism, and motifs in literature and art. It defines theme as the main idea or message, symbolism as the use of symbols to represent ideas, and motifs as recurring elements that create unity. It also provides examples of common themes, symbols, and motifs found in various media.

Uploaded by

Evelyn Azbell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THEME,

SYMBOLISM, &
MOTIF
Where Can We Find Theme?
• Themes are found everywhere!
• Literature, art, stories, movies, etc.

• For example

• The theme of a fable is moral


• The theme of a parable is to teach

• The theme of a piece of art should show its view about life, beauty, and more.
What is Theme?
• Theme is the main idea or message behind a piece of art, music, theater, or literature

• A theme can be a universal truth


• A significant statement being made about society, human nature, or the human condition
• Theme is not the subject of the work! It is an insight made about life, human nature, beauty,
philosophy, etc.

THEME = IDEA
Common Themes
• The quest for immortality
• The individual’s relationship with and obligation to society…
• Individual’s journey to understanding him/herself…
• Individual’s relationship with and obligation to nature…
• How justice and injustice are decided
• What it means to be a hero or antihero
• What it means to be a survivor
• An individual’s experience with alienation or despair
• What the future holds
• Love and hate and effects thereof
What is Symbolism?
• The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of
attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events,
or relationships.
• A person, place, thing, or idea that stands for something else. They
are used deliberately to reinforce meaning.
• For example, a sword may be a sword and also symbolize justice.
• A symbol may be said to embody an idea.
Symbolism
• A symbol may have more than one meaning, or its meaning may
change from the beginning to the end of a literary work.
• Personal: a meaning uniquely associated with our experiences
• Contextual: a private meaning created by an author or artist
• Cultural: a meaning uniquely influenced by our culture
• Universal: a meaning that is given to a thing by most people and
cultures
What Are Motifs?
• A recurring image, word, phrase, or action that tend to create
unity within a piece.
• Sometimes the motif helps to create the theme in literature, art,
music, etc.
• A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single
word or fragmentary phrase, while a theme usually must be
expressed as a complete sentence.
Common Motifs in Media
• Death
• Supernatural Adversaries
• Extraordinary Animals
• Wishes
• Magical Objects
• Magical Powers
• Deep Sleeps Witches
• Trickery
• Illness
• Consequences of Greed
• Flowers/plants
• Beautiful Princess
• Foolish or Dimwitted Hero

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