According to Merriam Webster, a trope is "a common or overused theme or device." I've frequently seen blog posts diss-ing this or that as "a plot trope" or "a romance trope." In other words, they call something a trope like it's always a bad thing. Newsflash - I disagree!
So, let's hear it for the tropes! Let's give the tropes a hand! There's gold in some of those "overused" plot devices.
As a previous post mentioned, I'm now the (proud, overjoyed, adoring) owner of a Kindle Fire. So I've been boogling around the Amazon, seeking valuable booty for my value-oriented budget. Yep, I've been looking for a lot of stuff for a little money. In this economy - who isn't, right? Well, while I've been boogling, I've realized how important those tropes can be. Some of 'em will make me click the "read more" button on the description every time. Others have to be exceptional to hook me. You know what I realized?
There are certain tropes that I love in my romances. No matter how often I read those plots, I'm still apt to check out the next book with a similar plot device that catches my eye. The types of tropes we treasure may be very similar, or they may be as vast and varied and different as we are as people. But, I'll bet if you tickle your memory "bone", you'll realize that there are certain tropes that draw you in too.
What does it for me? My list is too long for me to recall entirely - even on a good day. But I'll almost always check out the full product description for guardian/ward romances. I'll do the same for "almost" sibling romances or for those where a fellow falls head over toenails for his best friend's little sister - or even for his daughter's best friend. I think it's the lure of the forbidden in varying degrees in all of those stories that draws me in, combined in some of 'em with the angst of someone falling for someone who's way, way too young for them - by society's rules anyway.
Often the tropes will combine, and touches of the "forbidden" added to betrayal will also get me to click more almost as a matter of reflex. I love stories where one brother falls for another's intended or where the heroine has a mad case of bad, mad love-ust for her big sister or best friend's boyfriend or betrothed. If a writer sets up the hero as an "honorable beyond reproach" type - then I can't wait to watch him find the lady who teaches him lessons in humanity. Sometimes these come where the heroine meets a guide taking her to her father, family, big brother or betrothed. Together they confront a vast, wild terrain that's only partly composed of setting and scenery.
I could go on - and on and on - but you get the point. Likely, you got it earlier, but then, likely you're much brighter than a daft duck lady. The point is that there are tropes I love - in part- because they are tropes. "I Love Lucy" features a daffy leading lady I feel "not so strangely" connected to. In lots of those shows Lucy got into hilarious hot water because of her ongoing desire to be a part of Ricky's show. Yeah, it was a trope and yeah, it still makes me laugh every time I watch. It's like "knock knock" jokes - you have some idea where it's going, but you know you'll enjoy the trip anyway.
I think tropes get a bad rap. They're the Rodney Dangerfeld of creative concoctions. Tropes just "don't get no respect. No respect, no repect at all ..." Lord knows, the PCP (PC Police), like to turn up their better-than-thou noses at anything they consider to be - even remotely trope-like. And yet, if you view life in the right light - with more than a touch of humor - you'll realize that members of the PCP have themselves become - TROPES. Yes, Virginia, it's true. Just think about it......
The next time you're about to decide that you're so bright you need stronger shades and you're way, way too smart to be hooked by a trope of any kind, size, shape or description - I've got a point you need to ponder. One of the biggest reasons people read romance is for the happy ending. Most people - me, particularly, being amongst that number - consider the "Happy Ending" or HEA to be a feature that defines romance, as in, if it ain't got a HEA it can't be a romance.
Well, that does make a HEA a common plot device. Since it appears in every book that can claim to be a romance, then it is certainly so well used that if anything's "overused" a HEA must be amongst that number. So that makes a HEA -- a trope.
Like I said before - let's hear it for the tropes!!!