Keynotes are the author's thoughts through the prism of reader perception

The leitmotif in literature is the main idea, which by the red line passes through the whole work. Originally this term is musical, and literary scholars, without thinking twice, borrowed it. The word "leitmotif" comes from the German das Leitmotiv, and literally it is translated as "the main motive" or "the leading motive".

And in music, and in literature

In a musical work, the keynote is the main melody, theme or musical turn that is played in the composition. It can be said that most of the compositions are a melody that is used as a basis, which gives different variations. This melody is called the leitmotif. The meaning of the word "keynote" in the literature can be understood at an intuitive level, since the word "motive" is in the active vocabulary of most people. The emotional plan, the concept or the main theme of one or several works, the entire work of the writer or his works in a particular period - that's what the keynote is.

Music as thought and feeling

The first concept of "leitmotif" in music was introduced by the musicologist and pedagogue Friedrich Wilhelm Jens, and the famous German composer Richard Wagner started actively using it in his works. Hans von Wolzogen used the term "leitmotif" most often, especially when he spoke about the works of Wagner's authorship. Since Richard Wagner wrote long operas of different character and content, the use of the leitmotif was mandatory and even natural for him, because it was the easiest way to keep a certain atmosphere and keep the listener in the right mood. Even the shortest of his musical works make the listener give up all his business and devote himself only to listening to music, because the leitmotifs that Wagner uses can not leave anyone indifferent.

Lost Souls and Lack of Hope

Explain the literary terms best on specific examples, and in this case, the writers of the so-called "lost generation" are ideal. So, Erich Maria Remarque wrote about absolutely different people and rarely used the same characters in several of his works, but the leitmotif of his work is human despair and finding oneself after the horrors of war.

Similar or identical ideas were used in their books by other representatives of this group of writers. Their main leitmotifs are the impossibility of living normally without a homeland, the denial of the future after participation in hostilities and the complete nihilism based on a cynical attitude to life and the lack of faith in the best. Another famous representative of the writers of the lost generation is Ernest Hemingway, in whose books there is more softness, but in general the atmosphere in them is very similar to the one that is always felt in the works of Erich Remarque.

Pretenduesh - match!

In general, leitmotifs - this is something not only clearly seen in the work, but also barely perceptible, hidden between the lines. Sometimes the leitmotif can be the mood. For example, we can say that in their work the writers of early postmodernism use the leitmotif of the conflict of personality with itself, the irrationality of the surrounding world and the importance of sincere emotions and feelings. Most often, when a writer chooses for himself a certain direction in which he would like to create, he gets acquainted with the main topics that affect his colleagues. For example, if adherents of naturalism suddenly start to croak from descriptions of frank scenes, and adherents of realism - to tell how the fairy visited the main hero in his right mind, then colleagues of such initiative will not understand and support. True, the correct leitmotifs are the basis, rather, for classical writers, and in modern literature, these boundaries have long been erased.

How to distinguish good literature from bad?

It is noteworthy that the leitmotif, which is played out by the writer in one or several works, forms his style and manner of writing. The use of several selected themes, as well as the unique construction of dialogues and the use of figurative and stylistic means - this is exactly what distinguishes a particular writer among hundreds of others. There is an opinion that it is very easy to distinguish a good writer from a mediocre writer. If the author can be recognized by several paragraphs or at least pages, then he managed to create his own style and characteristic handwriting, for which he was loved by readers. In mass literature and belles-lettres, such a phenomenon is not observed almost never, because the main emphasis in it is on ascertaining the facts and describing the events, and not the feelings and thoughts of the characters. It is believed that leitmotifs are an unnecessary element for mass literature, because such books are most often read once and immediately forgotten.

Literary teachings for the youngest

Surprisingly, such a phenomenon as a leitmotif is observed even in children's literature. Of course, in most fairy tales for toddlers, the theme and main idea contain an open teaching and a vivid morality, but they are very effective leitmotif. According to the tone of the tale, it is always possible to distinguish it from other genres of literature, even if the work has passed through several translation processes. In works for children, such leitmotifs should be submitted as clearly and concretely as possible, but sometimes writers also suggest that small readers ponder on their own. If in the "adult" literature the leitmotif is used more likely to disclose the author's intention, then in fairy tales and instructive stories, it is specially made obvious by placing the work at the center and developing a story based on it.