trope
A significant or recurrent theme, motif, or cliché; a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression.
In modern pop-culture and literary criticism, a trope is a familiar storytelling shortcut or convention (like 'the chosen one' or 'enemies to lovers'). It is not inherently bad, but can become a cliché if overused without a fresh twist.
Word relationships
- cliché: A cliché is a trope that has been overused to the point of losing all its original power and meaning; a trope is simply a structural convention that can still be used effectively.
- convention: Convention is a broad term for any accepted rule or practice, while trope specifically refers to a narrative device or figure of speech.
- originality: Originality represents a completely unique idea or structure that avoids established tropes.
Commonly confused with
- motif: A motif is a recurring element within a specific story to build its theme; a trope is a recurring element across many different stories in a culture.
Word family
- tropic (adjective): Relating to the tropics (where the sun 'turns' at the solstice).
- tropical (adjective): Of, typical of, or peculiar to the tropics.
Collocations
- tired trope
- literary trope
- subvert a trope
- common trope
Example sentences
- "The film relies heavily on the tired trope of the wise old mentor who dies in the second act." Critiquing a fantasy movie
- "The professor's lecture focused on the use of light as a moral trope in Victorian literature." Academic literary analysis
Memory hook
Think of a trope as a 'turn' in the road that every writer takes. It's a well-traveled path that readers expect to see. A trope is a familiar turn in a story.
When not to use
Do not use trope to mean a literal physical object unless that object serves as a highly established cultural symbol.
Fun facts
- The website 'TV Tropes' is a massive, highly addictive online wiki dedicated entirely to cataloging and analyzing the thousands of narrative tropes used in pop culture.
Related words
Also appears in
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