Tropes are commonly recurring literary and rhetorical devices, motifs or cliches in creative works. There are numerous tropes that exist, but three of the most well-known and widely used tropes in storytelling and literature are: the hero’s journey, Chekhov’s gun, and irony. These three tropes help shape narratives and engage audiences across different genres and mediums. Understanding these key tropes provides deeper insight into how stories are told.
What is the Hero’s Journey?
The hero’s journey, also referred to as the monomyth, is arguably the most well-known trope in storytelling. It outlines the typical narrative arc and character growth for the protagonist in a story. The hero’s journey was first introduced by scholar Joseph Campbell in his book ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’. Campbell studied myths and sacred stories from around the world and identified a pattern that existed across cultures and eras.
The hero’s journey follows 12 stages, though not all stories will feature every stage explicitly. The stages are:
| 1. Ordinary World | The hero exists in their normal life before the adventure begins |
| 2. Call to Adventure | The hero receives a call to action that disrupts their ordinary life |
| 3. Refusal of the Call | The hero initially hesitates or refuses to embark on the journey/quest |
| 4. Meeting the Mentor | The hero encounters a mentor figure who prepares them for the journey ahead |
| 5. Crossing the Threshold | The hero commits to the adventure, entering an unfamiliar or dangerous realm |
| 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies | The hero faces trials, meets allies, and comes up against enemies on their quest |
| 7. Approach to the Innermost Cave | The hero nears the central crisis or greatest challenge awaiting them |
| 8. The Ordeal | The hero faces their biggest challenge and must overcome ordeal (often by facing their greatest fear) |
| 9. Reward | The hero seizes their reward upon succeeding in the ordeal |
| 10. The Road Back | The hero begins their return home with the object/knowledge they’ve gained from the quest |
| 11. Resurrection | The hero undergoes a final test/sacrifice before their triumphant return |
| 12. Return with the Elixir | The hero brings their reward or ‘elixir’ back to the ordinary world to benefit their community |
The hero’s journey blueprint allows for tremendous flexibility and variety within stories. The stages can play out quite differently across genres from fantasy adventures to coming-of-age dramas. However, the trope reveals an innate story structure that resonates deeply with audiences as they witness the protagonist transform through their quest. It taps into themes of struggle and growth that we seek through storytelling. The hero’s journey continues to be employed extensively in modern fiction, films, tv shows and more to compelling effect.
What is Chekhov’s Gun?
Chekhov’s gun is a trope first introduced in a quote by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov regarding dramatic principle. Chekhov stated: “One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn’t going to go off. It’s wrong to make promises you don’t mean to keep.” This theatrical advice morphed into the literary trope ‘Chekhov’s gun’ – the idea that every element introduced in a narrative should serve a purpose.
Specifically, Chekhov’s gun means that if you make a point to draw attention to an object or detail early in the story, that item should reappear later on and have narrative significance. This creates anticipation and pays off for the audience. For example, prominently featuring a knife in Act I means that knife should play a role in events later on – like being used as a murder weapon in Act III. Otherwise it’s an irrelevant detail that shouldn’t have been highlighted.
Chekhov’s gun keeps stories lean and purposeful. It builds engaging suspense as readers/viewers notice these planted elements and then wait to see how they come into play. While authors don’t need to strictly adhere to only mentioning key objects, Chekhov’s principle helps avoid red herrings or distracting clutter in the narrative. The advice helps authors deliver on what they’ve promised readers/viewer through the set ups in their story. When used well, the cause and effect of Chekhov’s gun delivers a satisfying pay off.
What is Irony?
Irony is a broad narrative trope that comes in a few distinct forms. In general, irony involves a contradiction between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs. Many types of irony exist, but three major forms are:
Verbal Irony
Verbal irony is when someone says the opposite of what they actually mean. For example, if someone says “what lovely weather” during a heavy rainstorm, that ironic sarcasm highlights the gap between the terrible weather and their description of it as “lovely.”
Situational Irony
Situational irony occurs when the actual outcome of events contrasts with what was expected or intended. Like if a fire station burned down, or someone trained as a doctor died of illness – those contradictory situations are ironically contrary to expectations.
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something key that characters in the story do not. For instance, if viewers know a killer is hiding in a closet but the characters do not, that knowledge gap creates the irony and tension.
Irony functions to engage audiences as they recognize the disconnect between appearance and reality. Viewers feel involved as if they’re “in” on a secret truth. Irony also adds deeper and often humorous meaning to fiction. And in the case of dramatic irony, it builds suspense as viewers anticipate how characters will react when a truth is unveiled.
Conclusion
The hero’s journey, Chekhov’s gun, and irony constitute just a few examples from the extensive catalogue of known literary tropes. Each device serves a narrative purpose – guiding the protagonist’s growth, crafting cause and effect, or revealing contradictions between the expected and actual. Mastering the use of these and other tropes allows writers to shape compelling stories that will resonate with audiences. We continue finding these recurring motifs across the arts because they work. When skillfully implemented, tropes can elevate a story into a moving experience that provides insight into the human condition.