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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
Experiences in a Concentration Camp
Explanation and Analysis—Frankl's Wife:
Across Part I of Man’s Search for Meaning, the image of Frankl's wife is a recurrent motif. Many scenes throughout his imprisonment feature the return of her image in his mind.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Comparisons to Animals:
Part I of Man's Search for Meaning includes numerous similes comparing the treatment of prisoners to the treatment of animals. These similes occur often enough to become a significant motif across the book.
Frankl uses one such simile when reflecting on an encounter with a camp guard:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Instead, he playfully picked up a stone and threw it at me. That, to me, seemed the way to attract the attention of a beast [...] a creature with which you have so little in common that you do not even punish it.
Related Themes:
