Definition
A single recurring theme, plot device, character type, or narrative convention found across multiple stories. Examples include the 'chosen one,' 'love triangle,' or 'slow burn.'
Example Usage
The anti-hero is a popular trope in modern television drama.
Origin
From Greek 'tropos' meaning 'turn' or 'way'; used in rhetoric and literature criticism for centuries.
Fun Fact
Some tropes become so recognizable they develop fan names and subcategories, creating a lexicon unique to fandoms.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “trope” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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