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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—The Harmony of the Stroke:
Music is everywhere in The Boys in the Boat. Joe Rantz's biological mother Nellie Maxwell, for instance, played a grand piano that Rantz and his father Harry risked their lives to save from their burning house. Joe’s stepmom Thula Lafollette, meanwhile, is a classical violinist, and her inability to play the violin results in a dissatisfaction with the family's living situation in Boulder City. Joe Rantz even busked on the street in an attempt to make ends meet after being abandoned by his father and stepmother, to little avail. While music played a big role in Joe's childhood, it becomes one of the many distinctions in class between himself and other rowers. For example, Joe’s taste in music is described by his richer teammates as less cultured.
Related Themes:
