All About Tropes: The Storytelling Patterns That Shape Fiction
A brief description of what tropes are and how to use them
4/21/20244 min read
Introduction
Can you imagine never reading a fantasy novel without dragons or elves? How about a horror story without an abandoned location? These elements are called tropes. Tropes are elements that are commonly seen in a genre. They can be about the characters, the plot, or the setting. We see them throughout media. When they are done well, they can add a fun element to a story. When used poorly, they make a story cliche and comical. In this post, we will discuss what tropes are and how to use them effectively.
What are Tropes
Tropes are tried and true methods that can enrich a story. Tropes often have negative connotations. However, there are widely used literary tropes such as metaphors, hyperbole, irony, and many more. The word "trope" comes from the Greek word "tropos," meaning 'change of direction.’ The meaning has changed from a literary device to an overused plot device, character type, or setting. Tropes are used as building blocks in storytelling and are necessary. It would be hard to write fiction without including any. Every genre has its own set of tropes. Romance has the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope, which is seen in Pride and Prejudice and many other romance books. Fantasy and sci-fi often use the ‘chosen one’ trope, which is seen in Dune. Dystopian uses the 'the government is bad’ trope, which can be found in The Maze Runner. One trope seen in many genres that I loathe is the ‘secret evil twin’ trope because it is overused and a lazy plot device. This trope was seen in the Pretty Little Liars show finale. There are also other categories of tropes such as character tropes and setting tropes. In films and literature centered around teenagers, common tropes are high school cliques, alpha girls, fish out of water, and montages. These tropes can be seen in the films Mean Girls and Bring It On. A popular setting trope is the ‘small town’ trope that can be seen in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
When to use Tropes
Tropes are important building blocks in storytelling and should not be avoided. It is best to use them intentionally. To do this, you must be aware of all the tropes in the genre you write. Being aware of this will allow you to take a well-known trope and create something surprising from it.
For example, in romance stories, readers expect a happy ending. You can use this trope in your writing to create something new and fresh. It is also a way to attract readers to a story they might enjoy. A way to create unique tropes is to combine and mix tropes. This can be seen with many filmmakers and writers that create multigenre works.
However, when using tropes, be careful of using tropes about cultures or groups of people that are from different backgrounds. This can play into stereotypes. It is best to research or interview with a person from that background first.
Innovated Tropes
Many writers and filmmakers have elevated tropes. One author that comes to mind is J.R.R. Tolkien and his ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. He takes tropes such as ‘the chosen one’ and ‘scared artifact’ and elevates them. He does this by creating immersive worlds, well-defined characters, and morality in his stories. Before this elevation, the fantasy worlds in fiction were not taken seriously. The characters often escaped those worlds and did not have the burden of saving them. Tolkien did not create elves or dwarfs, but he helped reinvent them into the mythological creatures we know today. He changed the way we spell elves and how they were perceived as small mischievous creatures. Tolkien, however, did invent the creature the orc. He drew inspiration from ‘The Princess and the Goblin’ and ogres in mythology. Tolkien has elevated and set the standard for fantasy novels in countless ways.
A filmmaker who does this well is Hayao Miyazaki. He is also known for creating whimsical immersive worlds. He infuses mythology into his films and delivers works that capture the human spirit. He uses themes of Shinto, which is a Japanese belief that everything has a spirit. This can be seen in soot spirits in the film Spirited Away. Another theme that is popular in Japanese folklore is the use of Kami and Yokai. Kami are spirits that are seen as gods that are worshipped in shrines. Yokai are small spirits that are found in places like forests. Miyazaki uses these Japanese folk tales seamlessly to create unique characters such as Totoro. Totoro is a blend between a kami and a yokai. Miyazaki’s ability to capture the human spirit is seen when he combines these whimsical elements with real-life tragedies such as sick family members in My Neighbor Totoro war seen in The Boy and the Heron. This effortless blend of elements allows Miyazaki to create masterpieces that deviate from the boring tropes we have seen millions of times.
Conclusion
Tropes are everywhere in fiction. They serve as building blocks to storytelling for writers and readers. When they are done well, they can be used to elevate stories. If used poorly, they can become cliche and lazy. What are your favorite and least favorite tropes?
sources:
"How to Use Tropes in Writing" - MasterClass
"Tropes and Clichés in Writing" - Self-Publishing School
"What Are Tropes in Writing?" - Writer's Digest
"What is a Totoro? For One of Japan's Most Iconic Characters, Its Nature Is Rather Mysterious" - Medium (Jacqueline Composanto)
"8 Ways Tolkien Changed Modern Fantasy Forever" - James T. Kelly