Best rating for literary motif (5)
I believe the answer is:
topos
'motif' is the definition.
(I know that topos is a type of motif)
'best rating' is the wordplay.
'best' becomes 'top' (top can mean the very best).
'rating' becomes 'OS' (Ordinary Seaman - rating can mean a sailor).
'top'+'os'='TOPOS'
'for literary' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for topos that I've seen before include "Literary stock theme" , "Stock item" .)