
Motifs in Literature
Below is a short list of common literary motifs. This does not even remotely cover the literary motifs that are out there. Use this list as a guide only, if you would like to use a motif on this list, by all means go ahead, but feel free to venture out on your own.
ClothingSeasons Colors Paradise Apparent death Supernatural Adversaries Supernatural Helpers Extraordinary Animals Magical Objects Magical Powers Magical Transformations Deep Sleeps Witches Wishes Trickery Consequences of Greed Beautiful Princess
|
Foolish or Dimwitted Hero Importance of Threes Illness Flowers/plants The Beauty and the Beast The Temptation The Returning Soldier The (Victorious) Underdog The Bewitching Woman The Damsel in Distress The Wicked Ogre Struggle of the Poor/Rich The Journey of Escape The Lost The Miracle Journey from Innocence to Awareness Sacrificial Friend/ Savior The Inward Struggle |
The Quest The Faithful Friend The Love Triangle The Betrayal Revenge Meeting the Supernatural The Search for Identity Justice for All Born Again/Recalled to Life The Corruption of Power Oppression of the Poor Big Brother is Watching The Wild Woman Madness Separation |
Resources
Use the following links as you research for the definition and historical use of the motif and for additional examples found in novels, artwork or movies.
Book Sources eBooks Databases Websites MLA Guide

**When looking for early
examples conduct a Power Search for your motif in WebCollection Plus or
browse the stacks in the following sections. Remember to use the Index and
Table of Contents of each book.
Bible/ Religious Stories: 220s
Mythology: 200s & 290s
Folklore & Fairy Tales: 390s
The following book sources are a great place to begin your search for definitions & early examples:
Click
the icon to search the IMC's
collection of eBooks from Gale Virtual Reference
Library that contain information for this assignment
including the Dictionary of Literary Symbols & Archetypes and Motifs
in Folklore and Literature.
History Reference Online from ABC-Clio
This database include eBooks on folklore and mythology including: Popular Tales and Fictions, Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature and Medieval Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs and Customs.

Bloom's Literary Reference Online from Facts on File
Literary Reference Center from Ebsco
Literature Resources from Gale
combines LitFinder, Literature Resource Center, and
Gale
Virtual Reference Library
Novelist from Ebsco
Oxford Art Online from Oxford University Press
Oxford
Reference Online from Oxford University Press
World Folklore and
Folklife from Greenwood
Art
Resource Digital library contains over 250,000 keyword-searchable fine
art images
Bible Gateway Online Bible searchable by keyword, phrases, or scripture reference.
Bartleby.com Electronic and searchable version of Bulfinch's Mythology- The Age of Fable
The Catholic Encyclopedia More than 11,000 articles on Catholic topics
Encyclopedia Mythica Internet encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion.
Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts Contains a list of electronic text organized by theme.
Heartlight's Search God's Word SearchGodsWord is a searchable online edition of the Bible
Mythography looks at Greek, Roman and Celtic mythology
World Myths and
Legends in Art Created by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, this site
explores world myths through 26 works of art from its collections.
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