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openTranslation differences not in names? Literature
Is there a trope for when a significant word (title, name of an object, etc., not a character) isn't translated literally from the original language, in a way that gives the setting a different flavor. Not a Dub Name Change because it isn't a character's name.
I'm thinking of a book where there is an Elective Monarchy that uses the title "Prince" in the original English, but the Japanese translation uses "gensui", which would mean more like "general" or "commander". (It's relevant for an English book on an English site because the Japanese fandom is more active and the best adaptation was made in Japan.)
Is there a trope for this?
openNickname distant from name Literature
When someone's nickname is very different from their actual name. In Alan Alone, a man introduces himself by saying "My name is Aswadi, just call me... Bai." before hurrying them to listen to his important story to share. But Alan asks why his nickname is so different from his name, which Bai answers that he is nicknamed Bai by those in his village because he likes to eat rambai
.
openSeries Back blurbs always spoil? Literature
Is there a trope for when a book series will inevitably spoil at least the general outcome of earlier books?
Like say in Book 1, Bob lays dying at the climax, but you pick up Book 2 and the back blurb says 'Bob is heading back into the fight' so now you know Bob can't die in the rest of Book 1.
Would that fall under Spoiler Cover? Though it's more writing based than illustration.
openHide at the scene Literature
A person has just committed a murder. In stead of escaping the scene of the crime, hoping no one will see them, the culprit hides at the scene, waits for others to show up, and then leaves the hiding place and pretends they came with everyone else.
openNo sense of aesthetics/beauty? Literature
Perhaps I can’t think of the correct description but I am unable to find any tropes listed covering such a thing as a lack of aesthetics or no sense of beauty. Can anyone direct me to any tropes along those lines? Something like when building a house it would just be a concrete block with rooms and windows to let in light. Also flowers are just plant leaves in different colours.
openThe moment when one expert recognizes another (often indirectly through their works) Literature
Either upon closer inspection of an artifact, when one character with a keen eye realizes that "masterful hands have created/written/woven this" or, likewise "this has the mark of <character xyz>".
Or, if in each other's presence, with one of them having (sometimes accidentally) "revealed their hand" (say, in the presence of novices), but this only being recognized by the other hidden master, leading to a knowing, respectful nod or smile to each other, or professional (but often hidden) counter-move that may be equally unexpected by the opponent.
Resident Bollywood Nerd
openOmerta Literature
Do we have a trope for "A person commits a crime, but because the community thinks it is justified/acceptable, nobody will testify against them"? This can be both positive (protagonist murders evil character, victim is so hated by community that nobody testifies) or negative (evil character murders innocent, society is so bigoted that nobody testifies". It's something described in the book "Omerta" by the concept of the same name, but it is seen in several media.
There is overlap with Asshole Victim for sure, but it's not exactly that, I think.
Edited by arcanephoenixopenAn antagonist who counts on a big bluff Literature
Is there a trope about an antagonist who convinces the weak he has power when in fact it's just an effective con? For example, he makes it seem like his "crew" is a lot bigger than it really is. In fact, he's desperate.
openlooking for a trope.... Literature
I'm trying to think of the appropriate trope that describes a character or device that you have created that is, or becomes, such an impediment to the storytelling because their presence literally prevent the protagonists or fellow protagonists from getting into trouble in the first place, and so the author has to go to extreme lengths to keep them out of the way until the end when they inevitably appear and nullify the problem .The Luggage in the Rincewind Discworld books for example, Or indeed Miss Wetherwax herself in the later books.
So does such a beast exist or do we have to name it?
openUnreliable biography Literature
Is there a trope for a biography that seems hard to believe mainly because it casts the person in an incredibly negative light (or, conversely, seems to whitewash them a lot), as well as the claims in it being rather far fetched and/or contradicting what other people who knew the person in life claimed about them? I only have a Real Life example so I would prefer not to say it due to Rule of Cautious Editing Judgment.
openAuthor uses favorite topic a lot Literature
What do you call it when an author likes to insert a particular philosophical question in many of his works? In many of Isaac Asimov's short-stories, as well as in his over-arching galazy history, there is the question of controlled comfort that stops risky space expansion vs. mankind's progress that includes rocky competition and war.
openCharacter dying before big event Literature
I'm just wondering if there's a trope for characters who die very early and never get to experience a world-changing event or the world after it.
Example: someone gets killed the day before a nuclear war and is spared the horrible fate of living in that new world, etc.
openA trope about little girls with big, protective dragons. Literature
A trope I see a lot of but can't find anywhere on TV Tropes is simply about, say, a princess being given to a dragon to be eaten, only the dragon doesn't eat her and instead raises her. Or, in other variants, a little girl (sometimes boy) stumbles onto a dragon and befriends him.
I was wondering if this trope existed. If so, what is it called?
Examples:
https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8e7yif/wp_as_a_solitary_dragon_youve_spent_countless/
https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7zrk9l/wp_a_dragon_fights_to_protect_its_most_valued/
https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/813gcd/wp_youre_a_powerful_dragon_that_lived_next_to_a/dv0auer/
Etc.
openTests and Pride Literature
Working on examples for Way of Choices. Looking for two tropes.
First, there's a stone that tests cultivation (enlightenment/chi) levels by glowing. Is there a trope for having some device or artifact that just reveals special powers/destiny? Like the triluminary-thingie in Babylon 5, or the Jedi-scanners in the old Star Wars EU (and Midi-chlorian tests in the prequels?)
Two, the protag, Chen, is terminally, let's say ill. He is also engaged to marry one of the wealthiest and most important young women in the world, because his master saved her grandfather's life and he promised his granddaughter's hand. Chen goes to their house intending to break off the marriage contract, but her parents' snobbishness and various efforts to bribe or strong-arm him into breaking it convince him to keep it instead. What trope(s) would this fall under?
EDIT: Do we really not have a trope for a straight-up test of physical strength?
Edited by Rhodes7openLosing your Godhood Literature
What trope do we have for a deity that loses their godhood status.
openIllustrations drawn color and grayscale interchangely Literature
In a picture book for Elephant's Child and the Commander Toad series, the illustrations are first drawn in color on the first 2 pages, drawn in grayscale in the next 2 pages, and the pattern goes on.
openFirst Line of A Book Referenced in another medium. Literature
Trying to find a Trope to reference for a page I'm working on.
In the film about a writer, he's shown writing the opening lines to a famous book of his. I'm sure there's a trope for this, but I can't for the life of me remember what it's called.
openPackrat? Literature
What is the trope for a person who is a packrat? Not a hoarder, just a packrat. Like Greer Gilman said, "I clink, therefore I am".

A character who on occasion responds with "Not my problem." I've considered Bystander Syndrome, but the problem is caused by the character who then says the phrase afterwards. Although it isn't frequent enough for the character to be a full blown Jerkass.
For instance, a character clogs a friend's toilet as they're hurrying to leave their house, when their friend confronts them, the character's response is a cheeky "Heheh, not my problem."
Edited by SentinelMajor