Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

A trope is a word or expression used in a figurative sense, essentially a figure of speech. Tropes are a key element of rhetoric, the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.12

Common examples of tropes include:
* Metaphor: Comparing two dissimilar things without using "like" or "as".3
* Simile: Comparing two things using "like" or "as".3
* Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals.3
* Irony: A contrast between what is said and what is actually meant.3
* Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis.3
* Metonymy: Substituting a related term for the actual word.3

Tropes can also refer to common themes or devices in the arts, such as the "enemies-to-lovers" trope in romance stories. They are crucial for conveying meaning and heightening effect in communication.14

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.