Literary Tropes Are Like French Fries by Laurel Osterkamp

Let’s welcome back Laurel Osterkamp as she shares with us “Literary Tropes Are Like French Fries.” Enjoy!

***

Literary tropes. 

We know they are recurring patterns or themes in literature, serving as a shorthand for certain ideas or emotions.

But how do we use them to our advantage?

Think of it like this: literary tropes are like eating at McDonald’s.

You know exactly what you’re going to get.

Should you eat there everyday? Hell, no!

But sometimes it’s alright, especially if you’re in the mood for greasy, salty french fries.

Literary tropes are like McDonald’s french fries.

Readers will look at your novel and decide, “Yes, I know what I’m getting here and it’s exactly what I want.”

But, it’s easy to eat too many french fries and feel disgusting.

Am I right?

The trick is to use tropes as a vehicle to enhance your story.

Just make sure the tropes aren’t the story itself.

And if that’s unclear, here are some examples…

1. Use Tropes to Create Dynamic Characters

Tropes such as “the hero’s journey” or “the chosen one” can give readers a sense of familiarity and help them connect with the protagonist on a deeper level.

For example, I’m in the middle of Sunshine on the Reaping, so I’ve got the Hunger Games books on my mind.

Suzanne Collins uses the hero’s journey and the idea of a “chosen one” with Katniss, and again in the prequel with Haymitch.

We know ahead of time that he’ll prevail in the games, that it’s his destiny to play a major part in the revolution.

Thus, his heroic character arc becomes more about the journey and less about the destination.

This adds complexity to his character, creating a sense of destiny and purpose for the reader to root for.

Similarly, the “anti-hero” trope, where the protagonist has questionable morals or motivations, can add depth and intrigue to a character.

In Patricia Highsmith’s Ripley series, Tom Ripley is a smooth, easy-going psychopath.

Nothing, not even murder, will stop Tom from getting what he wants.

And yet, there’s something likeable about Tom.

He has an underdog quality that causes the reader to root for him.

By using the anti-hero trope, Highsmith allows readers to see Tom’s journey from a different perspective, making him layered and complex.

2. Use Tropes to Add Twists

While tropes can be used to create familiarity and engage readers, they can also be subverted to add surprises and twists to the story.

Subverting tropes means taking a familiar pattern or theme and turning it on its head.

For example, many argue that Jane Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice, invented the “enemies to lovers” trope and established the model for a perfect Regency romance.

But those tropes are subverted in Seth Grahame Smith’s Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies, when he combines a rom-com of manners with a blood-soaked zombie tale.

The result was a fresh and unique twist to a familiar story.

3. Use Tropes for World-Building

Tropes can also be used to enhance the setting and world-building in a novel.

The “dystopian society” trope has been used in many popular books.

One not-so-recent example is Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

Atwood’s dystopian novel takes place in the Republic of Gilead, formerly the U.S.

There, a woman’s worth is determined by her baby-making abilities.

Atwood’s dystopia is set in the near-future, contrasting present-day with a horrific future nightmare.

4. Adding Humor and Satire

Tropes can also be used to add humor and satire to a novel. The “fish out of water” trope, where a character is placed in a situation or setting they are unfamiliar with, can create comical situations and add levity to a story.

In Allison Espach’s The Wedding People, the protagonist, Phoebe Stone shows up at a classy hotel intending to kill herself.

However, when it turns out that she’s the only guest who isn’t part of a week-long wedding, Phoebe is sucked into the events and bonds with the bride.

Her unfamiliarity turns what would be a depressing story into something both funny and uplifting.

Literary tropes can be powerful writing tools if you use them correctly.

Whether used to create dynamic characters, subvert expectations, build a world, or add humor, tropes can elevate a story and engage readers on a deeper level.

Just use them sparingly, and with intention.

Like a box of french fries from McDonald’s, tropes can be an incredibly appetizing treat.

As long as they’re not your main nutrition source, you’re doing great!

***

About the Author 

Laurel Osterkamp is from Minneapolis, where she teaches and writes like it’s going out of style. Her short fiction has been featured in Abandon Journal, Idle Ink, Tangled Locks Literary Journal, Bright Flash Literary Journal, and The Metawoker, among other places. Her new novel, The Side Project, was released on November 13th by The Wild Rose Press.

 

Follow her on Social Media:

Website – https://laurellit.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laurel-osterkamp
Instagram: Laurel Osterkamp (@laurel_osterkamp) • Instagram photos and videos