Leitmotif (Noun)
Meaning
A melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner's operas).
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The ominous two-note pattern served as a leitmotif for the villain, striking fear into the hearts of the protagonists whenever it was played.
- Throughout the novel, the recurring phrase of a distant bell tolling in the darkness functioned as a leitmotif for the approach of doom.
- As the story progressed, the eerie whistle that signaled the entrance of the sinister figure became an unsettling leitmotif.
- In the composer's latest symphony, the mournful violin melody served as a leitmotif for the return of the soloist's family after their tragic departure.
- Each time the wicked queen appeared on screen, her ominous leitmotif - a swirling storm of percussion and winds - foretold a maelstrom of trouble.