A motif is a recurring element in a work that could be physical, conceptual, symbolic, auditory, or atmospheric. Gothic motifs are elements that are often found in works within the genre. Here are just six categories (with examples) of some Pacific Northwest-specific gothic motifs.

Stormy Weather & Ominous Fog

Savage Animals
wolves, bears, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, Orcas, hawks, owls, eagles

Creepy Seemingly Harmless Animals
deer, elk, hares and rabbits, beavers, pikas, river otters, seagulls, marmots, bats

Distressing Objects
axes, crab pots, glass fishing float orbs, fishing net, fish bones, sculls, cairns, wind chimes made from natural elements, bullet-riddled signs

Hostile Nature
moss, lichen, mushrooms, ferns, blackberry vines, thick-rooted trees

The Human Trace

clothing, shoes, marks on trees or in the dirt, still-warm campfire, diary, abandoned vehicle, jewelry