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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
Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Life and Death:
Throughout Norwegian Wood, life and death are portrayed as very close to each other. They are inseparable, intertwined forces that act equally on the narrative and characters—an idea that recurs throughout the novel and forms a motif. This is a crucial part of Toru’s worldview, as he explains in Chapter 2:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The night Kizuki died, however, I lost the ability to see death (and life) in such simple terms. Death was not the opposite of life. It was already here, within my being, it had always been here, and no struggle would permit me to forget that. When it took the seventeen-year-old Kizuki that night in May, death took me as well.
Related Themes:
Chapter 11
Explanation and Analysis—Life and Death:
Throughout Norwegian Wood, life and death are portrayed as very close to each other. They are inseparable, intertwined forces that act equally on the narrative and characters—an idea that recurs throughout the novel and forms a motif. This is a crucial part of Toru’s worldview, as he explains in Chapter 2:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The night Kizuki died, however, I lost the ability to see death (and life) in such simple terms. Death was not the opposite of life. It was already here, within my being, it had always been here, and no struggle would permit me to forget that. When it took the seventeen-year-old Kizuki that night in May, death took me as well.
Related Themes:
