A literary or artistic element, often repeated in a story or art piece, that helps to built up or emphasize the theme intended by the writer or artist.
Imagine a story in which you read, first, of a woman who appears in a scene wearing a black pearl necklace. Though the fact is stated it is not emphasized; no particular attention is paid to it. Pages down the story, a different woman appears in the story wearing an identical black pearl necklace. Your attention and interest cannot help but be piqued by the 'coincidence,' and you will usually not be wrong to assume that the two women are related in simliar roles in the story. The black pearl necklace is a motif.
©ALBERITH