trope
- any literary or rhetorical device, as metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony, that consists in the use of words in other than their literal sense.
- an instance of this.Compare figure of speech.
- a recurring theme or motif, as in literature or art:the trope of motherhood;the heroic trope.
- a convention or device that establishes a predictable or stereotypical representation of a character, setting, or scenario in a creative work:From her introduction in the movie, the character is nothing but a Damsel in Distress trope.The author relies on our knowledge of the Haunted House trope to set the scene.
Origin of trope
Words nearby trope
Other definitions for trope (2 of 2)
MORE ABOUT TROPE
What is a trope?
A trope is a recurring element or a frequently used plot device in a work of literature or art.
A trope can be a person, place, thing, or situation. While you might not have known the definition of trope, you likely have plenty of experience with them if you enjoy literature or art.
The chosen one is a very common trope used in fantasy and science fiction stories, for example. The chosen one is a character (usually the protagonist) who is the only person in the universe who can save the day or foil the villainâs evil scheme, such as Harry Potter in J. K. Rowlingâs series.
Another popular trope is a MacGuffin, an object that a plot focuses on. The hero and villain might fight over it or the hero might have to find it in the heroâs quest (another trope!). The MacGuffin serves no other purpose, so details about it donât matter. In the Indiana Jones movies, Indiana is always chasing a lost treasure that the villains also want. Because the treasure isnât important other than because the hero and villain both want it, itâs a MacGuffin.
Why is trope important?
The first records of the term trope come from around 1525. It ultimately comes from the Greek trĂłpos, meaning âturn, manner, style, figure of speech.â In rhetoric, a trope is another term for a figure of speech. The use of trope to mean a ârecurring themeâ is a more modern usage.
One reason tropes are repeatedly used is that people are familiar with them, making it easier for a creator to tell a story. A writer doesnât need to spend pages telling us why the villain wants to take over the world. We already know from reading other stories that this is what typically happens, so we can move on to the rest of the story. As well, we wonât question why supervillains repeatedly escape from prison without all of the police being fired for incompetenceâbecause the escape is necessary for the story.
You can spot tropes that are unique to a specific genre. For example, in horror movies, no one seems to question when a main character foolishly wanders off alone for no reason. They need to be set apart for the plot to move forward. Thatâs a trope.
Did you know ⊠?
Sometimes, a trope can be overused. When it is, it becomes a clichĂ©, a trope that bores or frustrates the audience because theyâve seen it so much. In soap operas, the trope of an evil twin sibling that causes problems for the good twin has become so common that audiences consider it to be a boring clichĂ©.
What are real-life examples of trope?
People have gotten good at recognizing tropes and will often discuss which are their most and least favorite.
Perhaps my all-time favorite trope is "antagonist begrudgingly switches sides to defeat an even greater evil."
— Lindsay King-Miller (@AskAQueerChick) October 2, 2020
"Fast sharks" is going to overtake "Fast zombies" as the most hated trope in movies.
— bring on the dancing horses (@inthefade) July 12, 2013
everytime i go and try and be cute itâs like that trope in looney tunes where somebody step on a rake and it hit them in the face
— Beau DegĂĄs (@yunghermoso) September 23, 2020
What other words are related to trope?
Quiz yourself!
True or False?
A trope is a character type or plot device that appears repeatedly in works of literature or art.