Romantic Tropes
This trope involves a protagonist choosing between two love interests, often with very different personalities.
What is the Love Triangle?
A protagonist learns they have a unique power that makes them critical to saving the world.
What is the Chosen One?
What does it mean to “subvert” a trope?
To twist or change a common trope in unexpected ways.
A protagonist moves to a new town and discovers they have magical powers
What is a Fish out of Water?
The “Chosen One” trope can be traced back to this ancient epic about a Greek hero returning home.
What is The Odyssey?
A trope where two characters initially hate each other but gradually fall in love.
What is Enemies to Lovers?
This trope involves a long and dangerous journey where characters face trials along the way.
What is the Hero's Journey?
A protagonist refuses the call to adventure and chooses a quiet life instead.
What is the refusal of destiny?
A story where a protagonist’s tragic past drives their motivation to fight for justice.
What is a Tragic Backstory?
The mentor’s death trope is common in YA, but its roots can be traced back to this famous character in Star Wars.
Who is Obi-Wan Kenobi?
This trope involves two best friends, one of whom secretly loves the other.
What is Friends to Lovers?
Name the trope where magical objects, like swords or rings, drive the plot.
What is the Magic MacGuffin?
The hero fails their ultimate goal, but the story focuses on the lessons learned.
What is Failure as Growth?
A protagonist who wakes up with no memory of who they are or their past.
What is Amnesia Protagonist?
This early dystopian novel, published in 1949, influenced the structure of many YA dystopias.
What is 1984 by George Orwell?
Name the trope where two characters pretend to be in a relationship but end up developing real feelings.
What is Fake Dating?
A fantasy trope where the villain’s motives are more complex than pure evil.
What is the Sympathetic Villain?
A romance where the protagonist chooses independence over a relationship
What is Choosing Oneself?
A romance develops between a human and a supernatural being
What is Paranormal Romance?
The trope of “star-crossed lovers” was famously popularized by this Shakespearean play.
What is Romeo and Juliet?
In many YA romances, one partner is brooding and mysterious while the other is bright and optimistic. Name the trope.
What is Grumpy-Sunshine Couple?
A secret or lost heir to a throne discovers their destiny.
What is the Hidden Royal?
In many dystopian novels, the “survival of the fittest” trope is subverted to highlight what kind of societal values?
What are cooperation and compassion?
The protagonist faces trials to earn their place in a secretive organization or society.
What is Initiation?
The idea of a reluctant hero has its roots in this ancient Biblical figure.
What is Moses?