Trope
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| - | {{Template}}In linguistics, '''trope''' is a [[rhetoric|rhetorical]] [[figure of speech]] that consists of a play on words, i.e., using a word in a way other than what is considered its literal or normal form. The other major category of figures of speech is the [[Figure_of_speech#Schemes|scheme]], which involves changing the ''pattern'' of words in a sentence. | + | {{Template}} |
| - | Trope comes from the Greek word, ''tropos'', which means a "turn". We can imagine a trope as a way of turning a word away from its normal meaning, or turning it into something else. | + | '''Trope''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''[[τρόπος]]'' - ''tropos'', "turn") may refer to: |
| + | * [[Trope (linguistics)]], a figure of speech that consists of a play on words | ||
| + | * [[Trope (literature)]] or ''Literary trope'', a common theme used in storytelling. Something [[recur]]ring across a genre or type of literature, such as the ‘mad scientist’ of horror or ‘once upon a time’ as introduction to fairytales. Similar to an [[archetype]] (or a [[cliché]], but not necessarily [[pejorative]]). | ||
| - | == Comparison to ''topos'' == | + | * [[Trope (philosophy)]] |
| + | * [[Trope (music)]] | ||
| - | In literature, a '''[[topos]]''' is a familiar and repeated symbol, [[meme]], [[theme (literature)|theme]], [[motif (literature)|motif]], style, character or thing that permeates a particular type of literature. They are usually tied heavily to [[genre]]. For example, topoi in [[horror fiction|horror]] literature and film include the [[mad scientist]] or a [[dark and stormy night]]. Topoi can also be plots or events, such as the [[science fiction]] topoi of an alien invasion that is deterred at the last minute. | ||
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| - | A "topos" is not to be confused with a "trope," which is a common mistake. A "trope" (Greek "twisting," referring to irregularity of use) denotes any kind of [[figurative]] language (e.g., [[metaphor]], [[metonymy]], [[synecdoche]], [[irony]]) that deviates from the commonplace. A "[[topos]]" (Gk. "place") refers to a commonplace or a convention within a given genre of literature. Thus, the mad scientist would be a topos — or better, a stock character — of horror films. | ||
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| - | Many authors have twisted (or troped) topoi into new forms to great success. [[Stephen King]] has been noteworthy for taking older horror tropes and reworking them into the modern world to great effect. Tropes may also serve as guides for writers trying to strengthen the overall effectiveness of their work (i.e., asking such questions as: what trope am I working with in this poem/story?). | ||
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| - | == Related == | ||
| - | [[character]] - [[cliché]] - [[fiction]] - [[figure of speech]] - [[genre]] - [[metaphor]] - [[repetition]] - [[stereotype]] - [[stock characters and situations]] | ||
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| - | == Examples == | ||
| - | [[damsel-in-distress]] - [[death and the maiden]] - [[doppelgänger]] - [[lesbian vampire]] - [[mad scientist]] - [[sadistic warden]] - [[white slavery]] | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Fantasy tropes and conventions]] | + | *[[Aarne–Thompson classification system]] |
| - | * [[TV Tropes Wiki]] is a site listing numerous literary tropes, not only on TV. | + | *[[Framing (social sciences)]] |
| - | [[Category:Trope]] | + | *[[Meme]] |
| + | *[[Archetype]] | ||
| + | *[[Pattern (architecture)]] | ||
| + | *[[TV Tropes]] | ||
| + | *[[Theme]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
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Trope (from Greek τρόπος - tropos, "turn") may refer to:
- Trope (linguistics), a figure of speech that consists of a play on words
- Trope (literature) or Literary trope, a common theme used in storytelling. Something recurring across a genre or type of literature, such as the ‘mad scientist’ of horror or ‘once upon a time’ as introduction to fairytales. Similar to an archetype (or a cliché, but not necessarily pejorative).
[edit]
See also
- Aarne–Thompson classification system
- Framing (social sciences)
- Meme
- Archetype
- Pattern (architecture)
- TV Tropes
- Theme
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Trope" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
