1. Literary Motifs Element that recurs in stories from many cultures and from many periods of history

2. Familiar Story Motifs Evil villians Evil stepmother Good vs. bad Helpful animals Maiden in danger and a hero who rescues her

3. Common Literary Motifs Three wishes Main character being tricked “Once Upon a Time” “Happily Ever After” Number three

4. Motifs- Common Themes Certain motifs are universal because they represent patterns common to all human experience. For example, the seasonal cycles are used in all times and all places to represent cycle of life and the progress of the individual human life. All human beings know that springtime and morning are associated with youth, while winter and nightfall are associated with age and death?