Final answer:
Literary motifs are repeated elements in a narrative that help develop a story's themes and influence its mood, but they do not define key terms or provide background information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Literary motifs are recurring elements in a text that contribute to the deeper meanings and themes of a work. These motifs may manifest as a statement, a place, an object, or even a sound, appearing repeatedly throughout the narrative. They do not define key terms or describe background information, but they certainly help in developing themes and can influence the mood of the work by adding layers of significance. For example, a motif such as a park may represent a character's childhood, and changes to this motif within the story can reveal meaning about childhood's impermanence and growth into adulthood.