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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 The Emperor Jones
Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—The Heartbeat Drum:
The sound of the tom-tom is a recurring motif throughout the play, serving as an auditory signal of Brutus Jones’s emotions as he runs for his life and from his past. The drumbeat first appears in Scene 1:
[From the distant hills comes the faint, steady thump of a tom-tom, low and vibrating. It starts at a rate exactly corresponding to normal pulse beat—72 to the minute—and continues at a gradually accelerating rate from this point uninterruptedly to the very end of the play.] [JONES starts at the sound. A strange look of apprehension creeps into his face for a moment as he listens. Then he asks, with an attempt to regain his most casual manner.] What’s dat drum beatin’ fo’?
Related Themes:
Scene 8
Explanation and Analysis—The Heartbeat Drum:
The sound of the tom-tom is a recurring motif throughout the play, serving as an auditory signal of Brutus Jones’s emotions as he runs for his life and from his past. The drumbeat first appears in Scene 1:
Unlock with LitCharts A+[From the distant hills comes the faint, steady thump of a tom-tom, low and vibrating. It starts at a rate exactly corresponding to normal pulse beat—72 to the minute—and continues at a gradually accelerating rate from this point uninterruptedly to the very end of the play.] [JONES starts at the sound. A strange look of apprehension creeps into his face for a moment as he listens. Then he asks, with an attempt to regain his most casual manner.] What’s dat drum beatin’ fo’?
Related Themes:
