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Stronger with fighting back Literature
So in Den of Shadows. The more powerful you fight back against your attacker/vampire sire while you're being turned into a vampire, the more powerful you are as a vampire.
Do we have anything for something like this ?
Elemental Fighter proficient in all elements, but especially skilled in one or two? Literature
Is there a trope for a person who uses the elements
to fight, but is best when using a certain one or two?
Example:
Alice is a fighter who can use Elemental Powers. When fighting, she can use Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to augment her attacks. She is most adept when using Fire and Water but can use the others if she needs to as well.
Edited by Xion_the_Undead-Huntress
Claiming a selfish wish is for somebody else Literature
In the 18th century play I read yesterday, Double Falsehood, a woman named Leonora receives a proposal from a nobleman named Henriquez. In order to decline his offer of marriage politely, she says that he should remember how his high position in society warrants him a woman of noble birth, which Leonora after all is not. The real reason she says no, of course, is that she's in love with another man.
What's the trope for when you're trying to convince somebody to do something by appealing to their self-interest, even though your real motivation is your own well-being?
A seemingly unassuming looking person with immense power Literature
Mercy Thompson features a character named Bran. Bran is the leader of the werwolves of North America and there most powerful but he looks simply like an ordinary 20 year old with no real extra-ordinary features.
Any ideas on what this trope would be ?
Author obliquely references something else he's written Literature
A character is described as a vidder who enjoys making slash videos for popular TV shows. One of the ones she mentions is Flash Forward, which is based on a book of the same name by the same author. The exact quote is "She'd been hoping to have a little time today to practice her vidding hobby: last night's episode of Flash Forward had been so slashy, parts of it just cried out to be set to music."
Is this some kind of fandom nod? Is there a trope for when an author is specifically referencing (an adaption of) his own work, especially in a joking manner? I couldn't find anything that sounded quite right under Self-Referential Humor.
Fully Grown Clone With No / Childlike Personality Literature
Is there a trope for a clone that is in every way identical to the original, right down to durability (if talking super-powers), but has no personality or the personality of a child?
Like, I'm writing a fanfiction in which a character has been captured for about a year, and during this year his captors have cloned him using advanced cell growth and alien tech (well, THEIR alien tech, since they're aliens), to create a clone that is in every way him right down to his powers, except no personality (since you don't want your slaves growing a conscience!) OR a very underdeveloped personality (so he listens to and does what his "parents" say.). I don't know what to call this, or if there's even a trope for it.
Fake-Out Villain Literature
I am sure there is a trope like this: At the start of the story we have this antagonist. He does evil things for, let's say, a third of the novel/film and the author manages to get everyone thinking that guy will be the Big Bad, or at least the main source of opposition throughout the whole thing. But holy twist! Midway through, said villain is made short work of by another malevolent entity. Now he is the Big Bad (until the other one comes... or not). Basically, a character set up to be the antagonizing loon for a good chunk of a production, that is then disposed of in favor of a big "you weren't expecting that, huh audience?" from the writer. I think one detail is very important: The thought-to-be main villain wasn't working with the other villain. The latter just springs into the scene, says "I am the real antagonist" before killing/sending the previous bad guy away and taking control of the narrative.
Edited by SKBengalTiger
Visit Every Point on the Map Literature
I seem to recall there was a trope (mainly found in epic fantasy novels) where during the course of the story the characters would visit every named location on the world map printed in the book(s). I think it applied in the Wheel of Time series and possibly also in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle. Is there such a trope? If so, what is it called?
No Title Literature
It’s where the author feels compelled to make the current significant other irredeemable mostly having negative traits and if they do have a good trait it’s typically superficial or fake. It’s like usually used to set up a scenario where the protagonist and the true love interest can get together.
Edited by treeswilltakeover
Oldest romance trope in the book(s) Literature
I couldn't seem to find a direct correlation, but that age-old, practically mandatory rule in romance (novels in particular), which decrees that the man must be older and "more experienced" and the woman is younger and usually virginal? Seems like it's a combination of 'Nature Adores A Virgin' for the woman and 'Virgin Shaming' for the man, though neither quite hit the mark.
Xenofiction is child-friendly Literature
YA or children's books with animal protagonists can get away with way darker content than they could with human protagonists. Warrior Cats is a shining example. I remember seeing a trope on the launch pad about this.
Edited by RiverWhiteWolf
No Title Literature
Father dies leaving family to fend for themselves
Courting two people Literature
In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff sends a love letter to Mistress Page, and another, identical love letter to Mistress Ford, in order to woo both of them to gain access to both women's household's money. What's the trope for wooing two women at the same time like this?
Metaphysical and Visionary Literature
Visionary fiction is a fiction genre with New Age or mind, body, spirit themes and perspectives, including consciousness expansion, spirituality, mysticism, and parapsychology. It is sometimes classed as a subtype of speculative fiction. Examples include the novels The Celestine Prophecy, The Alchemist, and Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. The Book Industry Study Group's BISAC subject heading FIC 039000 is "FICTION / Visionary & Metaphysical".
Although similar themes and content occur in the literature of numerous cultures in many ages, the term "visionary fiction" was suggested by Renee Weber, professor of philosophy at Rutgers University, and used by John Algeo in a 1982 article describing recent examples and earlier precursors. By the year 2000 it had recognition as a distinct genre. Contemporary authors have formed organizations like the Visionary Fiction Alliance to clearly define what the genre is and what works belong to this category, advocate the use of this term for all fiction of the determined type, and promote authorship and readership of this form of fiction. (From Wikipedia.)
Reflected in the narrative Literature
Alice is a slave fighter, nicknamed "Lucy" by her master, but despite everyone but herself calling her Lucy, the narraive always refer her as "Alice".
"said Alice", "Alice smirked", "Alice doesn't know what to do"
But one day, when she finally had enough, and she gives up and accept her fate, the fact that this is her new life now as a slave fighter, the narraive start to refer her as "Lucy".
"Lucy gave up."
Edited by Andermann
You literally are what you eat Literature
So in Mercy Thompson, there's a villain (more specifically a vampire) with the ability to gain the powers and abilities of the ones he consumes. I don't think Cannibalism Superpower works here as it involves him feeding off different species than his own (e.g. Fae, Walkers, etc.) to get their powers. What trope would you say would work best for this which is when a badguy gains the powers of those he consumes?
Edited by miraculous
Workout as Punishment (Solved) Literature
The villain defeats the hero (or the hero's dad) and sends him off to do forced labor in the Salt Mines, a Slave Galley or the army. Then, after a few years, the hard work turned the hero into a giant muscular superman who's actually a threat.
Edited by Pisthetairos
More Handy Than You Thought Literature
Is there a trope for when a character doesn't realize that a skill or super power that seems useless or limited is actually incredibly versatile? It feels like a cousin to the Took A Level In Badass trope, except this doesn't include characters who gain more skills, but rather the skills themselves that go unappreciated, underestimated, or unnoticed until the character gains some perspective.
Ex: in a book I read, one character's power was a mystery and seemingly useless until someone died near her and she realized she can capture ghosts, while another character who could grow flowers realized her true power is coaxing life into things, which can be used to heal the injured and can even work in reverse (coaxing life out of things).
Girl next door Literature