fantasy tropes
Chosen one, dragons
Fantasy tropes are the recurring elements, conventions, and narrative devices that appear throughout fantasy literature and media.
These include chosen one prophecies, dark lords, magical swords, dragons, elves, dwarves, quests, and coming-of-age journeys.
Some tropes—like the wise mentor who dies—have become so familiar they border on cliché, while others remain useful storytelling shorthand.
Writers may embrace, subvert, or deconstruct tropes: The novel plays with fantasy tropes by making the prophecy wrong.
The term often carries mild criticism, suggesting formulaic rather than original storytelling.
- dragonsMythical fire-breathing reptiles
- elvesMythical small beings
- chosen oneProphesied special individual
- hidden heirConcealed inheritor of estate
- dwarvesMythical small beings
spellcasting · antihero · giant · damsel in distress · elemental magic · prophecy · enchanted forest · time manipulation · floating islands · forbidden love · necromancy · quest · fairy · trickster · wizard · mentor · mysterious stranger · coming of age
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- fantasy studiesworldbuilding, world-building, magic systems, dragon lore, subcreation