The concept of rekindle—the act of reviving a lost passion, a forgotten memory, or a dormant connection—is a powerful storytelling tool. It injects vital emotional stakes into a plot by forcing characters to confront their pasts, heal from trauma, or rediscover their core motivations, making the narrative deeply relatable and resonant. 

Emotional Stakes and Character Arcs: Rekindling breathes life into stagnant or disillusioned characters. It acts as the bridge between a character's "before" and their transformation.  
Rediscovering Purpose: Characters who have lost their drive or suffered a devastating defeat often need a catalyst to rekindle their original spark, transforming apathy into fierce determination.  
Healing Trauma: Rekindling forgotten memories or confronting buried pains provides closure and emotional growth, which is essential for a satisfying character arc.  

Deepening Relationships and Intimacy: In romance, family dramas, and even epic friendships, the "enemies-to-lovers" or "estranged-to-reunited" dynamic relies heavily on the concept of rekindle.  
Rebuilding Trust: Watching two characters rebuild intimacy, forgive past betrayals, or discover why they fell in love in the first place creates profound dramatic tension.  
The "Second Chance" Trope: It allows writers to explore nostalgia, the passage of time, and the evolution of human connection, showing that growth is possible even after a relationship has been broken.  

Structural Utility (The All Hope is Lost Phase): In narrative structure, the concept of rekindle often appears in the second half of the story. When characters are at their lowest point, rekindling an old belief, an old friendship, or the initial inciting goal provides the motivation necessary to enter the climax. 
It moves characters from a state of passive reaction to active drive.  

Engaging the Audience: Using the theme of rekindle taps directly into the Science Behind Storytelling. By exploring themes of revival and hope, writers trigger an empathetic response in the listener's limbic system—the brain's emotional center. 
This emotional engagement makes the story far more memorable than a simple relaying of facts. 

Just the facts:

REKINDLE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

REKINDLE Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

REKINDLES Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

REKINDLING Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

REKINDLED Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

KINDLE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

9 hours ago, drpaladin said:

To replace a Kindle or re-Kindle it?

I miss the old days! When, I was a kid at summer camp. The only possible question or one of two likely answers to any sentence that had kindle / kindling  or rekindle in it, was and/or were:

Q    - Got a match?

A 1 - Yes.

A 2 - No.

(To this day I still carry a match/lighter, just in case?)