Motif definition

Here is a succinct definition of motif from a chapter of Carol Ann Tomlinson and Caroline Cunningham Eidson's book Differentiation in Practice. The chapter is written by Lyn Fairchild.

Here's how Fairchild defines motif.

"A motif is a physical element (such as blood) or some other image or idea that, in itself, does not have any particular meaning or represent any higher truth; it just is. However, when an author uses this element repeatedly in various places within a literary work, a reader can begin to draw conclusions about a higher truth or meaning."