What is the correct definition of motif?

a)an idea or object that recurs in a text

b)the central idea or thesis of a text

c)a universal idea explored in a text

d)an idea that conveys varied meanings

The correct answer is A. an idea or object that recurs in a text.
A motif is like a symbol which you can come across as the general idea in a text. For example, if you are reading a romantic novel, a common motif would be that of love, because it pervades the entire text. Other common motifs are good and evil, rich and poor, etc.