narrative motif
literary term; any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story
apocalypse
concept of a prophetic revelation, sometimes about eschatology
swan maiden
archetype in myth
conflict between good and evil
theme in fiction, religion and philosophy
missing sun motif
mythological motif
cap of invisibility
magic cap that can turn the wearer invisible (in fairy tales, literature, mythology, movies)
Snake pit
a pit of snakes
death or departure of the deities
motif in mythology
riff
repeated chord progression or refrain in music
Fountain of Youth
mythological theme in art and literature, a spring that supposedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters
Rash promise
narrative motif documented in Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature
luminous gemstones
worldwide motif in mythology and history
Calumniated Wife
Fairy-tale motif
resurrection
concept of a living being coming back to life after death
two brothers
narrative motif of two brothers who hate each other or fight with each other
king asleep in mountain
motif in folklore and mythology
double life
life style
nudity
narrative motif
loathly lady
motif in folklore and stock character; woman who appears to be hideous, often cursed
Princess and dragon
an archetypical premise common to many legends, fairy tales, and chivalric romances.
Procession of the dead
motif present in traditional folklore
star-crossed lovers
pair of lovers whose relationship is thwarted by outside forces
point of divergence
divergent narrative event in alternate history / uchronia
theft of fire
recurring theme or motif in world mythologies
theft of fire
recurring theme or motif in world mythologies
accidental travel
speculative fiction plot device
forced seduction
theme found frequently in romance novels and soap operas
origin of death
theme in the myths of many cultures, narrative motif
The tale of Aristotle and Phyllis
medieval tale of a woman making a fool of an aged philosopher
happy ending
describes a topic, subject or symbol in a story
Blue Flower
motif
outer world
narrative motif
Messianic Secret
proposed motif primarily in the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus is portrayed as commanding his followers to silence about his Messianic mission
Seven Heavens
seven levels or divisions of the Heavens in religious or mythological cosmology
love potion
type of potion supposed to secure the love of the person to whom it is administered; now generally found in creative works, but formerly popular in the pre-modern world, and still being compounded to this day in the superstitious East
creation of life from clay
miraculous birth theme in multiple mythologies
The Bird Lover
international cycle of stories about a bird prince
remote idol
character loved by another character even though they never met or only met eventually
miraculous birth
notion of a conception by miraculous circumstances in several religions and mythologies
Wild Hunt
motif in northern European folk myth
glass mountain
narrative motif
Seven-league boots
element in folklore
body swap
storytelling device
white savior narrative
literary archetype by which a white character rescues people of color from their plight
literary trope
use of figurative language – via word, phrase, or even an image – for artistic effect in literary works
Tower of Babel
Biblical pericope about hubris and the origin of languages
Oedipus complex
concept of psychoanalytic theory; a child's unconscious sexual desire for the opposite-sex parent and hatred for the same-sex parent