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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Thirteen Fantasy Cliches

13 Fantasy Clichés

By now, we’ve all read a fantasy novel (I hope) at some point in our lives. Perhaps you can relate to some of these clichés we’ve all come to know and love-- clichés that have now become staples to the genre.
1.) At some point during the story, the characters will either meet and/or discuss battle tactics in a tavern.
2.) This tavern will also have an inn attached so the characters can stay the night.
3.) Hero/heroine grows up in a tavern/inn.
4.) Mysterious, dark riders will show up to heighten tension.
5.) Hero/heroine’s family will be killed, thus forcing them on a life-threatening adventure.
6.) Hero/heroine is already an orphan, thus forcing them on a life-threatening adventure.
7.) The unlikeliest, poorest, or least experienced person will become the hero/heroine of the story, and the fate of the world is in their hands.
8.) The fantasy plot will be nothing less than total annihilation to king and country if the hero/heroine should fail their mission.
9.) There’s usually only one last dragon left in the world, one last wizard who knows the secret magics, or one last person who can wield the Mighty Uber Sword of Destiny.
10.) Elves will somehow be involved.
11.) Hero/heroine will go through some hellish ordeals throughout their plot, and will no longer be the fun-loving happy-go-lucky character of Chapter One.
12.) In fact, hero/heroine will become pensive and moody and wish things could go back to the way they were.
13.) At the end of the story, hero/heroine will either BE royalty, or so highly revered they might as well be royalty.

And there you have it. Thirteen clichés of the fantasy genre, whether it be straight fantasy, or fantasy romance. :)
~~Becka
http://www.RebeccaGoings.com

16 comments:

Dayna_Hart said...

*snicker* I'm not confessing to how many off this list I've used.
I don't wanna, you can't make me :P

Tempest Knight said...

I don't think of them as cliches. More like guidelines to write a fantasy. *wg*

Debbie Mumford said...

And your point is? *lol*

Great list!!

Anonymous said...

LOL! That reminds me of the scene in Stranger Than Fiction!

Well done!

Anonymous said...

I'm a huge fantasy novel and movie fan (I own way to many books hehehe)! Love your dragon header.

Babe King said...

They do sound very familiar. lol

Crystal Jordan said...

Is it bad that I like the fantasy cliche?

Veronica Arch said...

LOL. Very funny. I especially like elves showing up.

Becka said...

I think I resemble all 13 cliches... LOL

I like Tempest's post. They're merely "guidelines". :P

~~Becka

MsSnarkyPants said...

I've used a couple of those. ;D This was a totally amusing list!

Cindy K. Green said...

Well, I was definitely waiting for the - young Hero or Heroine losing their familiy members and being forced off on their adventure - cliche. It's in them all! LOL!

Great list Becka!

Elizabeth Parker said...

I don't normally read fantasy, but your list makes me think I might like to!

Paige Tyler said...

You're so right about all of those!

*hugs*
Paige

Sandra said...

Those were great. I think my fav was the dragon one. And maybe the elves.

P. Robinson said...

I'm not much of a fantasy reader but know many who are. It seems to be a really popular genre.

Carolan Ivey said...

[[Mighty Uber Sword of Destiny]]

[snickering]