CHARACTER TYPE AND TROPE THESAURUS

FAE FOLK



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HELPFUL TIP:

Using a trope or archetype helps readers quickly understand a character, but stopping there creates a weak and predictable figure. Instead, add depth with a unique backstory, emotional wounds, and related fears and flaws. You can also break expectations with an unusual job, relationship, secret, or positive trait.
DESCRIPTION:
These mystical folk have questionable moral codes and like to toy with human characters. Fae folk have been immortalized in a variety of folklore and include fairies, elves, pixies, brownies, imps, and the like.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES:
Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Tinker Bell (Peter Pan), Morgan le Fay (The Once and Future King), Maleficent (Maleficent)

COMMON STRENGTHS:
ADVENTUROUS, BOLD, CHARMING, CONFIDENT, CURIOUS, EXTROVERTED, FLAMBOYANT, FUNNY, INDEPENDENT, INTELLIGENT, NATURE-FOCUSED, OBSERVANT, PERSISTENT, PLAYFUL, QUIRKY, RESOURCEFUL, SPONTANEOUS, WHIMSICAL

COMMON WEAKNESSES:
CALLOUS, CHILDISH, COCKY, CRUEL, DEVIOUS, DISHONEST, DISLOYAL, FRIVOLOUS, GREEDY, IMPULSIVE, IRRESPONSIBLE, MANIPULATIVE, MISCHIEVOUS, RECKLESS, ROWDY, SELFISH, STUBBORN, TEMPERAMENTAL, UNCOOPERATIVE, UNETHICAL, VINDICTIVE, VIOLENT

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES:
Having an immense curiosity about life
Being skilled at camouflaging themselves
Being strongly connected to nature
Enjoying being special
Valuing their own community and being willing to stick up for their people
Having little consideration for people's feelings
Playing tricks and causing mischief
Being unreliable
Not struggling with remorse for their actions
Having a bad temper
Unpredictability
Thinking only about themselves
Keeping people at a distance
Being cold emotionally
Exploiting people's weaknesses
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FEARS THAT MIGHT LIMIT THE CHARACTER:
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SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM:
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INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH:
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CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF:
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TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO...:
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CREATE SOMETHING NEW:
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