19th Century British Poetry

In literature, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance. In poetry a motif can be an image, idea, a statement, or any other poetic device that is reoccurs. Motifs often contribute to the major themes of a work.

Exercise:

While reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," identify the major motifs in this ballad. Also identify the major themes. How do the motifs correlate to the themes?