leitmotif
Character's musical signature
A leitmotif is a recurring musical theme associated with a particular character, idea, or situation—Wagner's operas made the technique famous.
The term extends beyond music to any recurring element in a work of art or in life: Betrayal is a leitmotif in his novels.
The word comes from German, meaning "leading motif."
Repeated subject or idea
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- arcCurved line segment
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
foreshadowing · symbolism · throughline · subplot · exposition · climax · denouement · flashback
Central recurring concept
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- WagnerGerman Romantic opera composer
- operaTheatrical art combining song
- recurring themeRepeated subject or idea
score · orchestration · composition · symphony · sonata · concerto · tonality · counterpoint
Act of redoing
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- echoReflected sound wave
- repriseRecurrence of a theme
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
iteration · reappearance · reiteration · return · callback · refrain · recurring · persistent
Implied identity comparison
- emblemRepresentational sign or device
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- representationDepiction or likeness
- significanceQuality of mattering
connotation · hallmark · essence · icon · totem · figurative · manifestation · epitome
recurring theme
Repeated subject or idea
characterization · foreshadowing · symbolism · throughline · subplot · exposition · climax · denouement · flashback · dialogue
theme
Central recurring concept
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- WagnerGerman Romantic opera composer
- operaTheatrical art combining song
recurring theme · score · orchestration · composition · symphony · sonata · concerto · tonality · counterpoint · phrase
repetition
Act of redoing
cycle · iteration · reappearance · reiteration · return · callback · refrain · recurring · persistent · thread
metaphor
Implied identity comparison
- emblemRepresentational sign or device
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- representationDepiction or likeness
significance · connotation · hallmark · essence · icon · totem · figurative · manifestation · epitome · quintessence
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- film termsfilm, auteur, genre, celluloid, mise-en-scene
- German Loanwordsangst, blitzkrieg, doppelganger, gesundheit, kaput
- German Wordsdie, in, an, auf, von
- soundtracksfilm score, theme music, original score, main theme, end credits
- tuneslullaby, jingle, theme song, ringtone, hymn tune
leitmotifincidental music
Accompanying theatrical composition
background music · filler · interlude · episode · cadenza