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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
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Miranda and Swans:
Over the course of the novel, Miranda comes to be associated with swans. After Lindsay uses a simile to compare Miranda to a swan early on, swans appear in the action of the story—both as animals in the actual setting and as figures in Mike's dreams. The swan motif reinforces the mystery surrounding Miranda's character and gives a sense of Mike's feverish infatuation with her.
Related Themes:
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Measuring Time:
Clocks and dates play an important role in the narrative. Lindsay begins to establish this motif already in Chapter 2, when various circumstances keep the characters from keeping track of time during the picnic. In the rest of the novel, the narrator often notes the calendar date and how many days or weeks have passed since the picnic. Additionally, both at Appleyard College and at the Fitzhuberts', the characters often check what time it is. Through the motif of clocks and dates, Lindsay explores the illusion of order that humans find in the measurement of time.
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Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Millions:
After Edith, in Chapter 2, expresses horror at the notion of Hanging Rock having existed for millions of years, "a million" and "millions" are repeatedly used as quantifiers and descriptors—almost as though the narrator is trying to taunt Edith. Through the motif of large-scale numbers, Lindsay contrasts the brevity of the characters' lives—and human history in general—with the unfathomable immensity of archaeological time.
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Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—Inadequacies:
Over the course of the novel, the narrator and characters reflect on the inadequacy of perception and speech for perceiving, capturing, and making sense of the world around them. This motif bolsters the story's underlying mystery and adds to an idea that Lindsay explores throughout the novel: that not everything can be explained, or even understood, by humans.
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