[Trope tracker]: From ‘enemies to lovers’ to ‘the chosen one’ | Why your brain is hardwired to love literary tropes

You’ve seen it before. The brooding rivals who share a single, tension-filled glance and you just know they’re destined to fall in love. The humble farmhand who discovers a secret lineage, making them the only one who can save the world. If you feel a jolt of recognition and excitement, you’re not alone. These are literary tropes, the well-worn paths of storytelling. It’s easy to dismiss them as cliché or lazy writing, but what if they are something more? What if these recurring patterns are not a flaw in storytelling, but a fundamental feature that our brains are specifically wired to seek out and enjoy? This isn’t about predictability; it’s about the powerful psychology behind the stories we love.

The comfort of the expected pattern

At its core, the human brain is a pattern-recognition machine. From learning a language to navigating our daily commute, we thrive on identifying and understanding patterns. It’s a survival mechanism that conserves mental energy. When we encounter a familiar trope in a book or a movie, our brain experiences a sense of cognitive ease. We don’t have to work hard to understand the basic framework of the story. This familiarity is comforting.

Think of it like listening to your favorite song. You know when the chorus is about to hit, and that anticipation is part of the pleasure. Literary tropes work in a similar way. They provide a predictable structure that allows us to relax into the story. We know the general direction we’re heading, which frees up our mental space to focus on the unique details: the specific characters, the witty dialogue, and the imaginative world-building. The trope is the skeleton; the author’s unique voice provides the flesh and blood.

Emotional shorthand and narrative shortcuts

Tropes are more than just comfortable patterns; they are incredibly efficient storytelling tools. They function as a form of emotional and narrative shorthand, instantly conveying complex ideas to the audience without pages of exposition. When a story introduces a “grumpy one and sunshine one” pairing, we immediately understand the core dynamic at play. We anticipate the friction, the moments of unexpected tenderness, and the eventual way they’ll balance each other out.

Consider these popular examples:

• The chosen one: Instantly establishes high stakes, a sense of destiny, and an underdog journey.
• Found family: Taps into universal feelings of loneliness and the deep human need for belonging.
• Enemies to lovers: Promises high-stakes conflict, passionate resolution, and the idea that love can overcome any obstacle.
• The mentor: Signals wisdom, guidance, and often, a tragic sacrifice that forces the hero to grow.

By using these tropes, an author can tap into a shared cultural understanding, creating an immediate connection with the reader. It’s a shortcut directly to our emotions, building a foundation for the story with remarkable speed and efficiency.

Archetypes and the collective unconscious

Why do these shortcuts work so well across different cultures and generations? The answer may lie deep within our collective psyche. Psychiatrist Carl Jung proposed the concept of the “collective unconscious,” a shared reservoir of experiences and images inherited from our ancestors. Within this realm exist the archetypes: universal symbols or character types like the Hero, the Mentor, the Trickster, and the Shadow.

Many literary tropes are direct expressions of these ancient archetypes. “The chosen one” is a modern manifestation of the Hero archetype, embarking on a transformative journey. The wise old wizard or grizzled trainer is the Mentor. These figures and situations feel so resonant because, in a way, we already know them. They are part of a psychological inheritance that has been woven into myths, legends, and fairy tales for millennia. When we read a story with these elements, it strikes a deep, subconscious chord, making the narrative feel more profound and timeless.

The thrill of the twist: How subversion keeps tropes fresh

If tropes are so predictable, why don’t they get boring? This is where the true artistry of storytelling comes into play. While our brains love the comfort of a familiar pattern, they also crave novelty and surprise. The best authors don’t just repeat a trope; they use it. They play with our expectations, leading us down a familiar path only to suddenly veer off in a shocking new direction. This is the art of subversion.

A story might present a character as “the chosen one,” only to reveal that the prophecy was a lie or that the true hero was the unassuming sidekick all along. An “enemies to lovers” plot might end with them deciding they are better off as respectful rivals. These twists are so effective precisely because they rely on our pre-existing knowledge of the trope. The subversion wouldn’t work if we didn’t have an expectation to subvert in the first place. This dynamic interplay between the expected and the unexpected is what keeps storytelling exciting and ensures that even the oldest tropes can feel brand new.

Ultimately, literary tropes are far from being a sign of creative failure. They are the bedrock of narrative, powerful tools that tap into the very wiring of our brains. They offer cognitive comfort through familiar patterns, provide emotional shortcuts that deepen our connection to the story, and resonate with ancient, universal archetypes buried in our collective psyche. Most importantly, they provide a flexible framework for authors to either fulfill our expectations or brilliantly subvert them. So the next time you spot a familiar trope, don’t roll your eyes. Instead, appreciate it for what it is: a testament to the timeless, shared language of storytelling that connects us all, proving that some stories are loved for a reason.

Image by: Luriko Yamaguchi
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