With 58 essays on the central motifs of world literature, this reference work provides an insightful and nuanced overview of the diverse development of archetypal constellations, roles, or fantasies of humanity that have inspired poets from various times and cultures to create literary works. Motifs of world literature, such as the lovesick old man, the just robber, or the devil's pact, are poetic seeds that have motivated poets from different eras and nations in their literary expressions. In this well-established reference work, which has a counterpart in the themes of world literature, Elisabeth Frenzel presents 58 such central motifs that run through world literature as archetypal constellations, roles, or fantasies of humanity. In concise essays, she provides an overview of the themes.