trope
TROHP
/troʊp/
A significant or recurring theme, motif, or device in literature or art; figurative use of a word.
Refers to recognizable storytelling conventions or shortcuts understood by audiences.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'tropos' meaning 'turn, direction, or manner'. Originally used in rhetoric to denote a turn of phrase where words are turned from their literal meaning to a figurative one.
Word relationships
- convention: 'Convention' refers broadly to established artistic rules or norms.
- cliché: 'Cliché' carries a negative judgment of overuse, whereas 'trope' is neutral structural description.
- originality: Originality represents new, unprecedented creation free of established conventions.
Commonly confused with
- motif: A trope is a storytelling convention or plot device; a motif is a recurring symbol or image within a specific work.
Word family
- tropes (noun): Plural form of trope.
- tropological (adjective): Relating to tropes or figurative language.
Collocations
- common trope
- narrative trope
- subvert a trope
- overused trope
Example sentences
- "The 'chosen one' is a familiar trope in fantasy literature that modern writers often subvert." Film Studies
- "The director skillfully manipulated audience expectations by subverting a classic horror trope." Cultural Criticism
Memory hook
A TROPE is a plot TURN that audiences recognize instantly. Turning familiar story paths into recognizable signs.
When not to use
Do not treat 'trope' as inherently negative; a trope is neutral, whereas a cliché is an overused, tired trope.
Fun facts
- In medieval music, a 'trope' was an added phrase or textual insertion into liturgical chants.
Also appears in
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