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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Key Examples in Cannery Row
Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Religion:
Religious imagery is everywhere in Cannery Row, and it is often used in close proximity to things popularly considered "unholy" or "profane." Take, for example, the religion motif that appears in this description of Doc in Chapter 2:
He wears a beard and his face is half Christ and half satyr and his face tells the truth.
Related Themes:
Chapter 5
Explanation and Analysis—Religion:
Religious imagery is everywhere in Cannery Row, and it is often used in close proximity to things popularly considered "unholy" or "profane." Take, for example, the religion motif that appears in this description of Doc in Chapter 2:
Unlock with LitCharts A+He wears a beard and his face is half Christ and half satyr and his face tells the truth.
Related Themes:
Chapter 14
Explanation and Analysis—Hour of the Pearl:
"The hour of the pearl" is a metaphor used throughout Cannery Row to mark the hours of dusk and dawn that straddle day and night. In Chapter 14, this motif appears for the first time in a description of the "magic" of Cannery Row in the early morning:
Unlock with LitCharts A+It is the hour of the pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.
Related Themes:
Chapter 21
Explanation and Analysis—Hour of the Pearl:
"The hour of the pearl" is a metaphor used throughout Cannery Row to mark the hours of dusk and dawn that straddle day and night. In Chapter 14, this motif appears for the first time in a description of the "magic" of Cannery Row in the early morning:
Unlock with LitCharts A+It is the hour of the pearl—the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself.
Related Themes:
