MOTIF IN LITERARY CRITICISM: A BRADBURY-CENTERED ANALYSIS

Аннотация

This article explores the function and significance of motif in literary criticism, with a focus on the short stories of Ray Bradbury. By defining motifs and tracing their appearance across genres and narratives, especially in speculative fiction, the article investigates how Bradbury’s stories, particularly The Cistern and Space Shuttle Ora, embed thematic and symbolic motifs that transcend narrative structure and point toward broader socio-political and philosophical concerns. Incorporating interdisciplinary approaches—drawing parallels between literary and musical motifs—the article argues for a deeper, diglossic understanding of motif as a powerful tool of symbolic resonance, especially in postmodern and science fiction texts. Keywords: motif, Ray Bradbury, literary criticism, narrative structure, symbolism, speculative fiction, diglossia, The Cistern, Space Shuttle Ora, stylistics.