CHARACTER TYPE AND TROPE THESAURUS

ICE QUEEN



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to access the Character Type And Trope Thesaurus, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

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:
This hard-hearted woman freezes out everyone who gets too close. She may or may not be capable of love.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES:
Miranda Priestley (The Devil Wears Prada), Cersei Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Mrs. Reed (Jane Eyre), Miss Havisham (Great Expectations)

COMMON STRENGTHS:
AMBITIOUS, ANALYTICAL, BOLD, CONFIDENT, DECISIVE, DISCIPLINED, EFFICIENT, FOCUSED, INDEPENDENT, INDUSTRIOUS, INTELLIGENT, ORGANIZED, PERSISTENT, PERSUASIVE, RESOURCEFUL

COMMON WEAKNESSES:
ABRASIVE, CONTROLLING, CRUEL, CYNICAL, DEVIOUS, HAUGHTY, HYPOCRITICAL, INSECURE, IRRATIONAL, JEALOUS, MANIPULATIVE, PERFECTIONIST, PRETENTIOUS, PUSHY, SELF-INDULGENT, SELFISH, STUBBORN, UNETHICAL, VINDICTIVE, VOLATILE

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES:
Being single-minded in her pursuit of a goal
Enjoying being admired
Thinking logically, without emotions getting in the way
Being efficient (getting the job done, whatever it is)
Having strong leadership qualities
Having high standards
Being unwilling to compromise
Knowing how to manipulate people and situations to her advantage
Being calculating
Not asking for help even when she needs it
Exploiting other people's weaknesses
Sabotaging romantic relationships before they get too serious
Being unable to commit
Being oppositional by nature
...

FEARS THAT MIGHT LIMIT THE CHARACTER:
...

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM:
...

INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH:
...

CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF:
...

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO...:
...

UNEXPECTED OCCUPATIONS FOR THIS CHARACTER:
...

CREATE SOMETHING NEW:
...

...