Introduction
As avid readers, we are often drawn to consuming what we know we’ll like—even if that means we’re reading the same plotlines over and again. Nothing is better than a slow-burn romance, a twist ending in a mystery novel, the final girl left in a horror film who survives. Each of these common threads are a comfort, something to look forward to in the book, and in a sense, that’s how tropes should be viewed. They’re not bad, they’re just familiar, and they give us, as the readers, something to look forward to watching fully bloom across the pages.
Narrative tropes are the foundation for what’s being written. They are the stepping stones needed to jump-start a great writing idea. As long as some surprise or creative intrigue is thrown on top of the tropes, a good, original story can be written. It just takes a little imagination to take a trope from what everyone in the audience expects to something innovative and engaging.
“One path I've used a lot is to deeply and thoughtfully consider a trope or a tradition, and then set about taking it apart - but only in the service of a character or story that deserves it.” – Lidia Yuknavitch
Prerequisite – What are Tropes?
Some sources say that tropes are defined as a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression, but in today’s post, we’re going to discuss what the word trope has evolved into regarding: common plot devices, themes, archetypes, etc. within a literary work.
Tropes have often gotten a bad name in the literary world. Many say they’re overdone, they’re tired, they’re clichéd. Tropes are not to be confused with clichés, however. Clichés are overly used phrases or expressions and can include harmful or out-of-date connotations, generally being described as trite and hackneyed.
The common themes or devices being employed in literature don’t have to be stagnant and boring, sticking to the same old ending every time. Narrative tropes can be used to an author’s advantage to explore deeper storylines, or they can be twisted to create something new. The only limit that using tropes places on an author is self-imposed; tropes can become anything the author wants them to be.
“I have a great amount of respect for the audience. They know narrative construct. They know all the tropes.” –Paul Scheuring
Warm-Up – How to Use Tropes in Your Writing
The secret to a good trope is knowing how to use it.
When writing within a specific genre, there are certain elements that readers expect. These elements are often tropes that have long since been used to define the genre that they’re in, whatever that may be. Consider what elements your favorite stories are made of.
For this warm-up, think about plot devices that are commonly used in the genres listed below and jot them down. What are the common themes? What choices do the characters seem to make in many of the stories? In what situations do the characters always seem to end up?
– Horror
– Fantasy
– Sci-Fi
– Romance
– Thriller
“For someone who is starting out on developing their critical skills, just being aware of its existence is great: it can make the difference between trying to write a story around a cliche or an original idea, and better still, studying it can eventually clue you in on how to breathe new life into tired tropes.” –Charles Stross
Examples of Tropes
Using tropes in your writing is unavoidable, so much so that you might not even realize you’re doing it. Knowing where tropes come from and what tropes are out there will help your writing be able to expand past them and mold them into something new.
Here are a couple of examples of popular narrative tropes.
Character Tropes
Character tropes define a character, dictating their personalities, transformations, or histories. Below are a few examples of character tropes that are used throughout the genres.
– The Chosen One – a character is fated to complete a specific mission because of their unique strengths
– The Reluctant Hero – a character is forced to be the leader and save the world whether they want to or not
– The Mysterious, Brooding Villain – a character is visually described as dark, keeps to themselves, and is generally withdrawn, opposing the main character
– The Nice Guy – this character is deep and sensitive and might not be as cool as the other love interests or characters, but “deserves” the main character’s love because they’re so nice
– The Final Girl – this character is the sole survivor in a horror novel, usually outlasting and sometimes killing the horror that has plagued them throughout the plot
– The Wise, Old Mentor – a character described as old, usually a man with a long, gray beard, that imposes wisdom on the main character and trains them, sometimes with magic
Plot Tropes
Plot tropes define the direction the story is heading and sometimes how it ends, and they’re used to signal to the reader what kind of story they’re going to be reading. A few of these devices can be found below.
– The Hero’s Journey – the hero (or heroine) leaves home on an epic journey, encounters hardships, and returns forever changed by their experiences
– Enemies to Lovers – two characters start the story despising each other, but through shared experiences and mutual understanding, they fall in love
– Love Triangle – three people are entangled in a love conundrum: two of the people usually like the same third person, causing strife between them, or each person likes a person that doesn’t like them back, but likes the other person in the triangle
– The Ticking Clock – built for suspense, this trope involves the main character having to meet a deadline, and if they don’t, something disastrous will happen
– Everyone Dies Except for One – systematically, characters are killed off one by one until only one character remains, either the killer or a lone survivor
– Creation Goes Rogue – something created, whether a monster or AI or a brainwashed agent, goes against its programming in order to do what it wants instead, gaining humanity
Genre Tropes
Genre tropes exist for their target audiences, functioning as points of discussion between readers as well as defining the setting of the piece they’re in. Listed below are prevalent tropes for each of the main genres.
– There’s Only One (Romance) – there’s only one bed, one room, one taxi, one elevator, etc. that the main character and the love interest end up having to share
– Taverns (Fantasy) – used as meeting places and to encounter strange, new characters, often providing a rustic, down-to-earth atmosphere
– Unexplored, Seemingly Uninhabited Planet (Sci-Fi) – unable to resist temptation, an exploration party is usually sent out to explore something seemingly uninhabited or abandoned, only to encounter danger at every turn
– Cursed Object (Horror) – usually in the form of dolls or mirrors or Ouija boards—though sometimes a VHS tape—these cursed objects wreak havoc for the characters
– Small Town (Mystery/Thriller) – cozy mysteries are often set in small towns to create a closed-in, homey type of feeling where the murderer can only be one of a few known locals
“I have written it before and am not ashamed to write it again.” –Stephen Fry
Conclusion
If you’re not only a reader at heart but a writer as well, knowing the context for these tropes and being able to identify them in your own writing can be helpful in cluing you into what the audience will take from the plot or the characters or the story in general when reading it. You can figure out where they expect it to go and subvert that expectation to make your story something fun and fresh.
Tropes are not something to be feared and never touched by authors; they are tools to be wielded and used in new and creative ways. There’s a reason that these plot devices and themes have been around for so long, and there’s a reason they’re so successful: if they’re used well, they work for their audience every time.
Don’t be afraid to dive into a well-known narrative trope and make it your own!
Resources
A Complete List of Book Tropes: Everything You Need to Know – Dave Chesson explains the difference between literary and genre tropes and offers a list of different tropes for various categories.
What Are Tropes in Writing? – Robert Lee Brewer explores the question of what tropes in writing are and looks at a few examples to help show what tropes are and whether they're good or bad.
What Is a Trope in Writing and Literature? – Grammarly expounds on the ideas of literary tropes as well as defining narrative book tropes with examples.
Tropes and Clichés in Writing – Hannah Lee Kidder dives into the differences between tropes and clichés and offers a plethora of examples for each.
Tropes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Trisha Jenn Loehr goes through the best and worst parts of tropes and how they’re used in writing today.
Literary Trope Examples (Also, What’s a Trope?) – Abi Wurdeman provides excellent examples of different narrative tropes and explores different ways to combat writing tropes poorly.
Madison Eigel is a junior editor for A.E. Williams Editorial who is working on breaking into the writing and editing industry. As a former visual effects artist and writing hobbyist, she can offer various creative perspectives to the blogs that she writes. You can connect with her on the company Facebook, LinkedIn, or through email.
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