They call it 'coffee' because like actual coffee, it'll keep you up all night if it's done right.
The meaning under the text. Here's an example from Woody Allen's Annie Hall. The subtext is directly under the text, in italic.
HER: Hi!
Oh, God, nobody cool says Hi.
HIM: Hello!
I'd love to take her out. I hope my deodorant's working.
HER: Nice view.
He's talking to me! And he'll hate my silly dress.
HIM: (Taking a furtive step toward her) Just look at the clouds over there.
I've got to find out who she is.
HER: I'm Leslie ...
What a stupid name. He'll hate it and hate me.
HIM: Neat dress.
I just love her name.
Oh, God, nobody cool says Hi.
HIM: Hello!
I'd love to take her out. I hope my deodorant's working.
HER: Nice view.
He's talking to me! And he'll hate my silly dress.
HIM: (Taking a furtive step toward her) Just look at the clouds over there.
I've got to find out who she is.
HER: I'm Leslie ...
What a stupid name. He'll hate it and hate me.
HIM: Neat dress.
I just love her name.
The example is about a sexual attraction, but there are tons of other things that it could be about, anything which is not being said out loud about a topic that is present in the context. Note, in particular, that subtext can be (and frequently is) read into a work where none was actually intended by the author.
Tropes
Categories:
- Foe Romance Subtext: Romantic/sexual subtext between enemies.
- Hide Your Lesbians: Subtextual lesbians.
- Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: Someone constantly states their heterosexuality to rebuff their gay subtext.
- Ho Yay: Unintentional or questionably intentional gay subtext.
- Homoerotic Subtext: Intentional gay subtext.
- Incest Subtext: Incestuous subtext.
- No Yay: Squicky subtext, often of the sexual variety.
- Queer Flowers: Certain flowers convey gay subtext.
- Reality Subtext: When Real Life issues mirror the production, but don't significantly affect it.
- Threesome Subtext: Subtext about the possibility of a shared romantic and/or sexual relationship between three characters.
