A “trope,” not to be confused with nor transformed into a cliché, is an element a reader expects as a characteristic of a genre (such as magical creatures or talismans in a fantasy story). A cliché, on the other hand, occurs when you take a trope too far (rich-boy-loves-poor-girl romance, for example). The material difference between the two is what fresh, new characters, settings, or magical canon you bring to a familiar element.
Disclaimer: For reference and guidance only. And the “possible conflicts” are just suggestions as well.
Coming-of-age story:
Can be combined with any of the other genres fantasy, dystopia, historical fiction, and sci-fi, as in the Harry Potter and Hunger Games books), but there are many books (The Yearling, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Secret Life of Bees, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) that don’t really contain elements of any other genre.
--Young person faces problem(s)/obstacle(s) and overcomes it/them. The journey or quest is mostly psychological unless combined with adventure, such as in Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet.
--Young person loses innocence in one way or another (has to confront racism/prejudice, for example).
--Young person is faced with questions about life or human nature and has to find his or her own answers to those questions.
--Young person may have to confront a person of authority or stand up to a bully, or face the consequences of his or her choices as part of the “growing up” process.
--Young person faces problem(s)/obstacle(s) and overcomes it/them. The journey or quest is mostly psychological unless combined with adventure, such as in Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet.
--Young person loses innocence in one way or another (has to confront racism/prejudice, for example).
--Young person is faced with questions about life or human nature and has to find his or her own answers to those questions.
--Young person may have to confront a person of authority or stand up to a bully, or face the consequences of his or her choices as part of the “growing up” process.
The transition from childhood to adulthood, from innocence to awareness (at least on some level or as regards certain circumstances) is addressed in the story.
Endings are usually more “hopeful” than “happy.” The protagonist has gained knowledge or wisdom about the world or about him/herself and is usually a more tolerant or open-minded person as a result of his/her experiences; but because coming-of-age fits with realistic or literary fiction more than any other genre, the growing-up process is rarely complete by the end of the story. Some endings are not so hopeful; sometimes the contact with reality and the adult world causes the protagonist to decide that the world is a mean and horrible place, that humans are not worthy of redemption. Holden Caulfield in J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is an example.
Possible conflicts: All four.
Possible conflicts: All four.
No comments:
Post a Comment