'''Basic Trope''': A work makes no sense due to heavy use of symbolism and metaphor.
* '''Straight''': In the movie ''Bob and Alice'', Alice is meant to represent purity, strength, and youth. This ends with a giant baby version of Alice being created.
* '''Exaggerated''': ''Bob and Alice'' is two hours of unconnected symbolism, random imagery, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and not a single person in the movie]] [[NonindicativeName is named Bob nor Alice.]]
* '''Downplayed''':
** ''Bob and Alice'' mostly makes sense, except for that [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment one scene]] two-thirds of the way in.
** ''Bob and Alice'' is somewhat confusing, but mostly makes sense.
** ''Bob and Alice'' is very complex and dense, and may take a few watch-throughs to get, but isn't unreasonably confusing.
** GainaxEnding
* '''Justified''':
** ''Bob and Alice'' [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness is told from the perspective of an unmedicated schizophrenic with positive symptoms.]]
** [[NoodleImplements You have to use your imagination to create a plot.]]
** [[FauxSymbolism The symbolism really has no meaning]], [[TakeAThirdOption so neither does the plot.]]
* '''Inverted''':
** ''Bob and Alice'''s plot is very literal and explained as clearly as possible. All plot threads are tied up and all phenomena are explained.
** ''Bob and Alice'' cannot make heads or tails of the reader.
** EpilepticTrees
** FauxSymbolism
** EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory
* '''Subverted''':
** ''Bob and Alice'' is a story within a story, and the "outside" story does make sense.
** MindScrewdriver
** The metaphor looks like it makes no sense whatsoever, but near the ending someone explains it and it suddenly makes sense.
** The story makes sense but you need to see the end first.
* '''Double Subverted''':
** Then the outside story breaks down.
** The MindScrewdriver is a VoodooShark.
** The end explanation runs afoul of FridgeLogic.
* '''Parodied''': Not ''even'' the creator knows what is going on.
* '''Zig-Zagged''':
** ''Bob and Alice'' makes no sense up until TheReveal. It makes complete sense then. Until the ending when [[GainaxEnding the crazy train comes into the station]].
** ''Bob and Alice'' makes no sense, at least until the MindScrewdriver. But that turns out to be a VoodooShark, [[MindScrew except it turns out that the]] VoodooShark [[MindScrew is itself a]] VoodooShark, and the explanation makes sense. This is all well and good, until you consider the GainaxEnding. But there's an explanation for that too. [[HereWeGoAgain Except that explanation is also a voodoo shark. Or is it?]]
* '''Averted''':
** The story makes sense.
** The creators realize that the viewers are going to take everything literally, so they have the characters explain all the symbolism and metaphors.
* '''Enforced''': "I'm the one-and-only Creator/DavidLynch".
* '''Lampshaded''': "Don't bother with that. It's probably just [[AllPsychologyIsFreudian symbolic of your feelings towards your father]]."
* '''Invoked''': TheWalrusWasPaul, in which confusing the audience is the only goal.
* '''Exploited''': When this trope is used to trick someone into something.
* '''Defied''': Alice takes it upon herself to explain every plot development and image clearly.
* '''Discussed''':
** "A giant phallic monster is going to burst out of the wall now, isn't it?"
** "Considering what just happened, I don't think that any of this is going to start making any more sense any time soon."
* '''Conversed''': "I didn't mind the characters or the acting, just the bucket of acid the screenwriter took before writing the third act."
* '''Implied''': In order for this trope to work; it must be conveyed. Someone might still say the lines of "WHAT WAS THAT!?"
* '''Deconstructed''':
** Bob and Alice begin the story sane and fall into insanity as reality breaks down and nothing they do can stop it.
** Alternatively, [[BrownNote it's best to leave the work uncomprehended at all.]]
** QuirkyWork
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob and Alice, now insane, go on to narrate ''Bob and Alice II'', a story about them trying to get ''Bob and Alice II'' published.
* '''Played For Laughs''': SurrealHumor
* '''Played For Drama''':
** Bob's life make no sense and he kills himself, being unable to tolerate it anymore.
** SurrealHorror
* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': The story is ThroughTheEyesOfMadness or AllJustADream, and the weird symbols were all [[ForeShadowing Foreshadowing]] of this.
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Back to MindScrew...I...I think.
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%* '''Implied''': ???