Trope

Introduction

A trope is a common or overused theme, motif, or cliché in literature. It refers to any element that gets used frequently enough in stories to be recognizable and predictable. Tropes can encompass character types (like the ‘lovable rogue’), plot twists (such as ‘love at first sight’), settings (like the ‘haunted house’), or specific lines of dialogue (e.g., “We’re not in Kansas anymore”). While often dismissed for being cliché, tropes are powerful tools in storytelling, providing a shorthand that helps communicate complex ideas quickly and effectively. When used creatively, they can add depth to the narrative and connect with the audience on a familiar yet fresh level.

Pronunciation: /ˈtroʊp/

When do writers use Trope literary device?

Writers employ tropes to connect with their audience through shared cultural and literary expectations. Tropes make the narrative relatable and understandable by drawing on common human experiences and cultural knowledge. They are used to quickly establish character roles, advance the plot, or evoke particular emotions without extensive exposition. By leveraging familiar patterns, writers can focus on more unique aspects of their story, adding twists to tropes to subvert expectations and keep the audience engaged. Essentially, tropes serve as building blocks in storytelling, helping to structure and communicate the story’s underlying themes effectively.

How should I use Trope literary device?

When incorporating tropes into your writing, consider the following guidelines to ensure they enhance your narrative rather than detract from it:

1. Understand the Trope: Familiarize yourself with common tropes within your genre. Understanding how they’ve been traditionally used helps you employ them more effectively or subvert them creatively.
2. Use Tropes Deliberately: Choose tropes that serve your story’s theme and character development. Each trope should have a clear purpose, whether it’s building empathy, adding humor, or driving the plot forward.
3. Refresh Old Tropes: Give classic tropes a fresh twist. This can be achieved by placing them in unexpected contexts or combining them with other elements to create something novel and engaging.
4. Balance with Originality: While tropes can be a helpful starting point, they shouldn’t make up the entirety of your narrative. Balance them with original ideas and unique character arcs to keep your story fresh and compelling.
5. Be Aware of Tropes’ Impact: Consider how your use of tropes might be perceived by different audiences. Avoid relying on stereotypes or tropes that could reinforce harmful biases.

By thoughtfully integrating tropes, you can craft a narrative that resonates deeply with readers while providing a new perspective on familiar elements.

Types of Trope

Tropes can be categorized into several types based on their function and usage in narratives:

1. Character Tropes: These define common attributes, behaviors, or roles found in characters across various media, like the “Reluctant Hero” or the “Mentor.”
2. Plot Tropes: These are narrative elements that drive the story forward, such as “Rags to Riches” or the “Quest.”
3. Setting Tropes: These involve typical locations or worlds used across stories, like the “Dystopian World” or the “Enchanted Forest.”
4. Conflict Tropes: These describe typical challenges or conflicts characters face, like “Man vs. Nature” or the “Love Triangle.”
5. Theme Tropes: These are common motifs or messages that recur in literature, such as “The Great Escape” or “Coming of Age.”

Each type helps structure the narrative, offering a familiar framework within which the story can unfold in unique ways.

Trope in Literature

Here are some famous examples of tropes in literature:

1. The Hero’s Journey (The Odyssey, Star Wars): A common template where a hero goes on an adventure, faces a crisis, wins a victory, and comes home changed.
2. The Chosen One (Harry Potter, The Matrix): This trope involves a character, often ordinary, who is destined to perform great deeds that affect the world.
3. Damsel in Distress (Snow White, The Princess Bride): A traditional trope where a female character is placed in a perilous situation from which she cannot escape on her own and must be rescued by a male hero.
4. The Wise Old Mentor (The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars): A character who guides the hero, offering wisdom and advice that is crucial to overcoming challenges.

Trope in Children’s Books

Tropes are also prevalent in children’s literature, providing relatable and easily understandable elements for young readers:

1. Talking Animals (Charlotte’s Web, The Tale of Peter Rabbit): Animals that possess human traits and communicate with each other and sometimes humans.
2. The Mischievous Child (Dennis the Menace, Curious George): Young characters whose curiosity and playful antics lead to trouble and adventure.
3. The Magical Journey (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan): Children travel to magical realms where they encounter various challenges and learn important life lessons.
4. Good Triumphs Over Evil (Harry Potter, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe): This moral trope teaches children the value of goodness and the power of right over wrong.

Trope in Poetry

Tropes in poetry often involve figurative language that conveys emotions and themes beyond the literal meaning of the words:

1. Metaphor (Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy”): Comparing the father to a “black shoe” in which the speaker has lived like a foot.
2. Simile (Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose”): Likening his love to a red rose and a melody that’s sweetly played.
3. Personification (Emily Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”): Death is personified as a gentleman caller who takes the speaker on a carriage ride.
4. Hyperbole (William Wordsworth’s “The world is too much with us”): Exaggerating to express frustration with how disconnected people are from nature.

These examples show how tropes can enhance meaning and add depth to literary works, whether they’re stories for adults, narratives for children, or expressive poetry.

Trope in Songs

Songs often use tropes to convey universal emotions and experiences, making them relatable to a wide audience. Here are ten famous examples:

1. The Heartbroken Lover: Adele’s “Someone Like You” explores the trope of longing for an ex after a breakup.
2. The Party Anthem: LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” celebrates the trope of living it up and partying hard.
3. The Small Town Escape: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” depicts the desire to break free from a small town.
4. The Rebel: Katy Perry’s “Roar” taps into the trope of finding one’s voice and rebelling against suppression.
5. The Nostalgic Throwback: Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” evokes the trope of reminiscing about a past love.
6. The Journey: Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” embraces the trope of persevering and holding onto hope.
7. The Misunderstood Outcast: Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” celebrates individuality and embracing one’s true self.
8. The Romantic Ideal: Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” uses the trope of an ideal romantic love that is pure and everlasting.
9. The Heroic Return: Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” focuses on the trope of reclaiming control over one’s life.
10. The Transformation: David Bowie’s “Changes” plays with the trope of undergoing significant personal changes.

Trope in Movies

Movies frequently employ tropes to quickly establish settings, characters, and plot dynamics. Some famous examples include:

1. The Underdog Story: “Rocky” features the classic trope of a less favored individual triumphing against odds.
2. The Quest: “Indiana Jones” centers on the trope of an adventurous journey in search of an artifact.
3. The Mentor: “The Karate Kid” highlights the trope of an experienced mentor teaching a younger novice.
4. The Dystopian Society: “The Hunger Games” explores the trope of a society organized by oppressive rules and the fight against it.
5. The Femme Fatale: “Double Indemnity” showcases the trope of a mysterious and seductive woman leading a man into danger.

Famous Movie Line Highlighting Trope

“I’ll be back.”

This line from “The Terminator” has become iconic, embodying the trope of the unstoppable force returning to complete unfinished business.

YouTube Link Demonstrating Trope

Watch “I’ll be back” scene from The Terminator

This clip demonstrates the trope of the relentless pursuer, as used in “The Terminator.”

Trope in Advertising

Tropes in advertising are used to quickly communicate ideas and emotions that resonate widely:

1. The Happy Family: Many household product ads use the trope of the ideal, happy family.
2. The Inept Dad: Commercials for domestic products often depict dads as clumsy or inept, needing the product to solve their problems.
3. The Cool Youth: Ads for technology and fashion frequently feature young, hip individuals to convey coolness and modernity.
4. The Refreshing Escape: Beverage ads often show people escaping their busy life into a moment of refreshment.
5. The Testimonial: User testimonials in ads for products like weight loss supplements or financial services, suggesting reliability and effectiveness.

Trope-Related Literary Devices

Tropes are closely related to other literary devices that also rely on common patterns and themes:

1. Archetype: A universally recognized character or situation that represents universally patterns of human nature.
2. Cliché: An overused phrase or expression that has lost its original impact.
3. Motif: A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.
4. Allegory: A narrative technique in which characters and events represent broader themes.
5. Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities in literature.

These devices interlink with tropes to enrich narratives and communicate deeper meanings, making stories more engaging and reflective of human experiences.