Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Unlock your potential in literary analysis and interpretation with our top-notch Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is a difference between a theme and a motif?

  1. A theme is more general while a motif is more specific.

  2. A motif only appears once in a work whereas the theme appears multiple times.

  3. A motif is more frequently used than a theme in a work.

  4. A motif is more abstract while a theme is more literal.

The correct answer is: A theme is more general while a motif is more specific.

A theme is a broader and more central idea or message in a work, while a motif is a recurring element or symbol that contributes to the development of that theme. Option B is incorrect because both a theme and a motif can appear multiple times in a work. Option C is incorrect because the frequency of use does not determine the difference between a theme and motif. Option D is incorrect because the abstractness of a theme or motif does not determine their differences.