What do reluctant heroes, femme fatales, nerds, snobs, and rebels have in common? They’re all character types that are frequently found in many kinds of stories.
The upside of these tropes is that they’re familiar to readers, who will recognize them and immediately know the role they’re meant to play. The downside? They’ve been used so many times that they can easily become clichéd and predictable. But with The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus, they no longer have to be.
Use this resource to familiarize yourself with the commonalities for a certain kind of character while also exploring ways to elevate them and make them memorable, more interesting, and perfectly suited for the story you want to tell.
What is a Character Type and Trope Thesaurus?
What’s the Difference between Archetypes and Tropes?
ARCHETYPES
Caregiver
Creator
Explorer
Hero
Innocent
Jester
Magician
Orphan
Rebel
Ruler
Sage
Lover
TROPES
Adrenaline Junkie
Antihero
Bad Boy
Bad Influence
Benefactor
Bossy Britches
Chosen One
Christ Figure
Cowboy
Dark Lord or Lady
Doomsday Prepper
Father Figure
Free Spirit
Funster
Grotesque
Hopeless Romantic
Hotshot
Jock
Lady of Adventure
Loner
Mad Scientist
Mafia Don
Matriarch
Newcomer
Nice Guy/Girl
Pessimist
Phony Politician
Psychopath
Queen Bee
Reluctant Hero
Snob
Starving Artist
Storyteller
Wallflower
Whiskey Priest