Literature Tropes
#2: Mr. Exposition
Mr. Exposition. This trope involves a character who exists
only to explain a plot element, an important scientific or magical law, an
aspect of a foreign culture, etc. to the protagonist. Often it's actually for the benefit of the
reader, not the protagonist, who should know it already. Think of all those TV detectives explaining forensic
evidence to each other. I call this "exposition
in dialogue," and I hate it if all characters in the conversation already
know everything. As a writer, you should
think of another way to get the information across to your reader. If it's ingrained enough in the character's
personality, however, it can work. Think
of Star Trek's Data or the immortal Sherlock
Holmes.
Another variation is Captain
Obvious , a character who says something that the reader and all present
characters should clearly know. Picture two
people tied to the tracks and blinded by the light of the oncoming train. One character says, "Hey, there's an oncoming
train!" This can be done for comic
effect, but avoid it if it's not funny.
For more, see tvtropes.org.
Mr. Exposition is obnoxious. Like a troll.
ReplyDeleteI guess on television they have to do it sometimes so the viewer can tell what is going on. But when they do it in a novel where it is entirely uncalled for, it just makes me want to hurl.
- Obnoxious Troll