the narrative.31 Motifs can serve as encapsulations of basic principles or of societal experiences with which the authors of narratives were concerned. In a word, a motif often carries the essential message of a story.32 Motifs can function in several different ways in respect to societal norms: 1. A motif may be a narrative backup for established legal norms (a story that dovetails with what the norm says or implies). This can be done by (a) presenting ‘ideal’ dramatis personae who act in accordance