Trope vs Cliche: what’s the difference?

Trope vs cliche

What’s the difference between tropes and cliches? No, really. Writers are told that tropes are to be embraced but cliches should be avoided… but how are you supposed to know which is which? Let’s break it down.

What’s a trope?

What is a trope? In storytelling, a trope is a device that communicates something to the audience; basically, they allude to something other than their literal meaning. There are some tropes that you may see pop up over many stories, which can make them feel tired (like a cliche.) However, most tropes, even the ones we see often, can be done well, excluding the ones that are overtly harmful (think the white savior trope.)

One example of a romance trope is enemies to lovers. This is when two people go from hating each other to being deeply in love by the end of the story. Typically, this love story has many pit stops along the way; they may first become reluctant allies, then friends, as the romantic tension builds. 

Another common trope is the creepy child trope in horror. This is just what it sounds like: a creepy child that issues a warning, is a suspect for a crime, or does something generally creepy and off putting. 

While people are typically talking about these storytelling devices when they refer to tropes in literature, there are other things that are considered tropes as well, including metaphor, irony, hyperbole, and analogy.

What’s a cliche?

A cliche is described as “a phrase or opinion that is overused or betrays a lack of original thought.” For example, a character might tell another that “time heals all wounds.” This is an example of a cliche. A cliche is something predictable. It’s what the audience expects to happen.

Tropes can be subverted. For example, you could take the Chosen One trope; one character is deemed cosmically special, perhaps by a prophecy or something similar. However, when it comes down to the wire, it turns out that they’re just an ordinary guy and have to find a way to solve their problems that doesn’t involve magical powers or a blessing from the Gods. 

It is difficult to subvert a cliche. They can be used as a punchline: for example, the audience knows that a specific character speaks in cliches so they groan when he’s on screen. However, because they rely on predictability, truly subverting them transforms them into something other than a cliche.

I hope this was helpful! What’s your favorite trope? Tell us in the comments!