History Main / SubTrope

Let's say there's a {{trope}} for "Juggling". You realize that "Scarf Juggling" and "Knife Juggling" are common too, to the point where you can think of half a dozen examples for both. Those would be Sub-Tropes, whereas "Juggling" is generally their SuperTrope. In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus-differentia_definition logic terms]], "Juggling" is the genus and the different kinds of juggling are the differentia; they share the same common theme in their definition, but they each have additional features that distinguish one from another.

What makes a [[TitleDrop Sub-Trope]] can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a {{trope}} have a distinctive common element unseen in the other examples. This distinctive element makes the [[TitleDrop Sub-Trope]] the [[Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific same, but more distinctive]] than the broader {{trope}}. A {{trope}} can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common/distinctive enough, they form a [[TitleDrop Sub-Trope]]. Any sub-tropes should be listed instead of the SuperTrope, because the [[TitleDrop Sub-Trope]] implies the SuperTrope's presence.

Heck, some {{tropes}} can be sub-tropes of more than one SuperTrope. This can be a shared aspect of them or actually [[JustForFun/XMeetsY combining the two tropes]].

The definition of the [[SuperTrope super]] and sub-tropes are what's important. Every example of a [[TitleDrop Sub-Trope]] will also be an example of its SuperTrope.

Compare/Contrast Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific (when a distinction is not enough to make a separate {{trope}}).

!!Notable Sub-Tropes

* ChaoticEvil, ChaoticNeutral, ChaoticGood, NeutralEvil, TrueNeutral, etc. are {{Character Alignment}}s but the tropes themselves are Flame Bait, and thus do not allow examples.

* CharacterAlignment can range from the LawfulGood to the ChaoticEvil, but the tropes themselves are Flame Bait, and thus do not allow examples.

* CharacterAlignments range from the lawful to chaotic, good to evil, but the tropes themselves are Flame Bait, and thus do not allow examples.

* HypnotizeThePrincess is literally the DistressedDamsel being [[{{Brainwashed}} Hypnotized]].

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold and JerkWithAHeartOfGold are both sub-tropes of {{Jerkass}}.

They're all {{cool horse}}s--plus [[WingedUnicorn alicorns]] [[RhymesOnADime too]]!]]

Some tropes can be pretty broad. Some can be so broad that even a specific form of them can be tropes by themselves.

Let's say there's a trope for "Juggling". You realize that "Scarf Juggling" and "Knife Juggling" are pretty common as well, to the point where you can think of half a dozen examples for both. Those would be Sub-Tropes, whereas "Juggling" in general is their SuperTrope. In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus-differentia_definition logic terms,]] "Juggling" is the genus and the different kinds of juggling are the differentia; they share the same common theme in their definition, but they each have additional features that distinguish one from another.

What makes a sub-trope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a distinctive common element not seen in the other examples. This distinctive element makes the sub-trope [[Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific the same, but more distinctive]] than the broader trope. A trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common/distinctive enough, they form a sub-trope. Any sub-tropes should be listed instead of the super trope, because the sub-trope implies the presence of the super trope.

Heck, some tropes can be sub-tropes of more than one super trope. This can be a shared aspect of them or actually [[JustForFun/XMeetsY combining the two tropes]].

The definition of the super and sub-tropes are what's important. Every example of a sub-trope will also be an example of its super trope.

Compare/Contrast Administrivia/TheSameButMoreSpecific (when a distinction is not enough to make a separate trope).

* ChemicalMessiah is a subtrope of TerminallyDependentSociety.
* HeroBall and VillainBall are subtropes of IdiotBall, just applying to actions typical of those characters.
* MarySue has enough variations that it's split into [[MarySueTropes several types]], but it's so FlameBait-ey that none of them allow examples.
* OurMonstersAreDifferent shows that fantasy writers often use various and different rules to portray some of the most popular mythical creatures. Each subtrope deals with the most common rules that appear in works involving [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] (actually, vampires get [[YourVampiresSuck two]]), [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves]], [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]]...
* ParentalAbandonment refers to the common device of parents who are missing or dead. Some subtropes are MissingMom and DisappearedDad, when only one parent is unavailable.
* WhatMeasureIsANonCute points out the recurring protrayal of cute animals as the good guys and non-cute animals as the bad guys. ReptilesAreAbhorrent is a subtrope of this, as it points out that reptiles are almost always protrayed as evil and vicious.
* DeusExMachina is a subtrope of AssPull, where the pull is used to resolve the conflict.
* ImpossiblyCoolClothes is like an ImpracticallyFancyOutfit, but almost strictly done in drawn media, because that kind of outfit can barely even be worn at all in real life.
* FanHater is a subtrope of {{Hatedom}}, in that they hate both the work and the fans of that work. If they hate just the work, it's the latter trope.
* TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket is a variation of StrawmanProduct, in that the strawman aspect is making a product look far harder to use than it actually is.
* HeroicResolve is a subtrope of both HeroicSpirit and UnstoppableRage.
* HypnotizeThePrincess is literally the DistressedDamsel being [[{{Brainwashed}} Hypnotized]].
* BigBulkyBomb is StuffBlowingUp when the explosive device is really big (regardless of the actual explosion).

* BlackVikings is a subtrope of PoliticallyCorrectHistory and ColorblindCasting.
* AliceAllusion is a basically a ShoutOut to ''Literature/AliceInWonderland''
* RevolvingDoorBand is RevolvingDoorCasting applied to a musical group.
* MyHairCameOutGreen is a CosmeticCatastrophe with hair dyes.

* MarySue has enough variations that it's split into several types.

They're all {{cool horse}}s--plum [[WingedUnicorn alicorns]] [[RhymesOnADime too]]!]]

Let's say there's a trope for "Juggling". You realize that "Scarf Juggling" and "Knife Juggling" are pretty common as well, to the point where you can think of half a dozen examples for both. Those would be Sub-Tropes, whereas "Juggling" in general is their SuperTrope. In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus-differentia_definition logic terms]], "Juggling" is the genus and the different kinds of juggling are the differentia; they share the same common theme in their definition, but they each have additional features that distinguish one from another.

[[quoteright:344:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/silhouettecoolhorses_1979.png]]

* PrincessClassic is a form of EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses, but about a specific archetype of them.

They're all {{cool horse}}s--plum [[WingedUnicorn alicorns]] too!]]

What makes a sub-trope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a distinctive common element not seen in the other examples. This distinctive element makes the sub-trope [[TheSameButMoreSpecific the same, but more distinctive]] than the broader trope. A trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common/distinctive enough, they form a sub-trope. Any sub-tropes should be listed instead of the super trope, because the sub-trope implies the presence of the super trope.

They're all {{cool horse}}s -- purple [[WingedUnicorn alicorns]] too!]]

Let's say there's a trope for "Juggling". You realize that "Scarf Juggling" and "Knife Juggling" are pretty common as well, to the point where you can think of half a dozen examples for both. Those would be Sub-Tropes, whereas "Juggling" in general is their SuperTrope. In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus–differentia_definition logic terms]], "Juggling" is the genus and the different kinds of juggling are the differentia; they share the same common theme in their definition, but they each have additional features that distinguish one from another.

[[caption-width-right:350:With {{pegas|us}}i red and {{unicorn}}s blue,\\

What makes a sub-trope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a distinctive common element not seen in the other examples. That makes the super trope separate from the larger trope. Or, as mentioned above, a trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common enough, they form a sub-trope. These sub-tropes can be listed instead of the super trope, seeing as the sub-trope implies the presence of the super trope.

Now the definition of the super and sub tropes are what's important. In most cases, every example of a sup trope will also be an example of its super trope, but there are some exceptions. Fortunately it's good troping etiquette to just list sub trope examples on those pages instead of the super tropes (to avoid page bloat), rather than worrying if every example fits the larger trope.

What makes a sub-trope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a common element not seen in the other examples. That makes them distinct from the larger trope while still being included. Or, as mentioned above, a trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common enough, they form a sub-trope. These sub-tropes can be listed instead of the super trope, seeing as the sub-trope implies the presence of the super trope.

They're all {{cool horse}}s - purple [[WingedUnicorn alicorns]] too!]]

Heck, some tropes can be sub-tropes of more than one super trope. This can be a shared aspect of them or actually [[XMeetsY combining the two tropes]].

Let's say there's a trope for 'Juggling'. You realize that "Scarf Juggling" and "Knife Juggling" are pretty common as well, to the point where you can think of half a dozen examples for both. Those would be Subtropes, whereas 'Juggling' in general is their SuperTrope. In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus–differentia_definition logic terms]], "Juggling" is the genus and the different kinds of juggling are the differentia; they share the same common theme in their definition, but they each have additional features that distinguish one from another.

What makes a subtrope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a common element not seen in the other examples. That makes them distinct from the larger trope while still being included. Or, as mentioned above, a trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common enough, they form a subtrope. These subtropes can be listed instead of the supertrope, since the subtrope implies the presence of the supertrope.

Heck, some tropes can be subtropes of more than one supertrope. This can be a shared aspect of them or actually [[XMeetsY combining the two tropes]].

Let's say there was a trope for 'Juggling'. You realize that "Scarf Juggling" and "Knife Juggling" are pretty common as well, to the point where you can think of half a dozen examples for both. Those would be {{Sub Trope}}s, while 'Juggling' in general is their SuperTrope. In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus–differentia_definition logic terms]], "Juggling" is the genus, while the different kinds of juggling are the differentia; they share the same common theme in their definition, but they each have additional features that distinguish one from another.

What makes a sub trope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a common element not seen in the other examples. That makes them distinct from the larger trope, while still being included. Or, as mentioned above, a trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common enough, they form a sub trope. These subtropes can be listed instead of the supertrope, since the subtrope implies the presence of the supertrope.

Heck, some tropes can be sub tropes of more than one super trope. This can be a shared aspect of them or actually [[XMeetsY combining the two tropes]].

!!Notable Sub Tropes

* ChemicalMessiah is a sub trope of TerminallyDependentSociety.
* HeroBall and VillainBall are sub tropes of IdiotBall, just applying to actions typical of those characters.

* DeusExMachina is a sub trope of AssPull, where the pull is used to resolve the conflict.
* ImpossiblyCoolClothes is like a ImpracticallyFancyOutfit, but almost strictly done in drawn media, because that kind outfit can barely even be worn at all in real life.
* FanHater is a sub trope of {{Hatedom}}, in that they hate both the work and the fans of that work. If they hate just the work, it's the latter trope.

* HeroicResolve is a sub trope of both HeroicSpirit and UnstoppableRage.

* BigBulkyBomb is StuffBlowingUp, but that the explosive device be really big (regardless of the actual explosion).
* CanisMajor and MegaNeko are BiggerIsBetter applied to canines and felines respectively.

What makes a sub trope can vary. Perhaps the most common way is that several examples of a trope have a common element not seen in the other examples. That makes them distinct from the larger trope, while still being included. Or, as mentioned above, a trope can have several possible variations built in, and once examples of any of those variations are common enough, they form a sub trope.

* AliceAllusion is a basically a ShoutOut to AliceInWonderland