10 Fantasy Tropes That Star Wars Has Made Its Own (2024)

The Star Wars saga has been built upon over the decades, but it initially began as a way for George Lucas to explore classic mythos in a space opera setting. Star Wars has always combined elements of science fiction and, most notably, fantasy in its storytelling. However, those fantastical genre tropes have been repurposed and re-examined under a new lens to fit in with the rest of the galaxy far, far away.

There are plenty of examples to look at when exploring Star Wars' use of fantasy tropes, though. With franchises like Rebel Moon attempting to take some of that same magic and apply it in a new way, it's more important than ever to identify how those fundamental fantasy beats have been utilized in this out-of-context setting. In many cases, Star Wars has hidden these recognizable traits right under the audience's nose!

The Old Wizard Becomes a Mentor

Ben Kenobi & Yoda

The elderly wizard, who has seen and done it all, is a classic trope of fantasy narratives. Gandalf is a classic example, with his knowledge and guidance helping young Bilbo and, indeed, Frodo on their journeys. The role of the old wizard is to pass on their counsel to the hero and introduce them to a world they had never known before.

Star Wars has an array of mentor figures just like Gandalf, but two notably jump out. Yoda has always been a pivotal character in a hero's journey, helping many Padawans understand their destiny, including Anakin and Luke. Ben Kenobi also served in this role for Anakin's son. The elderly wizard role is one of the most powerful in Star Wars, but they have been repositioned as Jedi Masters.

The Chosen One Starts Their Journey

Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker & Rey

See Also

Star Wars - TV TropesStar Wars: Tales of the EmpireThe Acolyte review: Series breathes new life into Star Wars tropesRanking the Star Wars TV Shows

The idea of a chosen one has been popularized across fantasy and science fiction literature. From Percy Jackson to Harry Potter, there are plenty of fantastical figures who are destined to change the world. They are said to bring balance and rid the universe of the evil that plagues it. While the chosen one trope has often been repeated, it has also been turned on its head.

In Star Wars, there are a couple of characters who are viewed as the chosen one. Luke and Anakin Skywalker were both supposed to bring balance to the Force, and there are different interpretations as to who actually fulfilled that prophecy. Rey is a slightly different chosen one, bringing the galaxy to a more peaceful time as the ironic heir to the Emperor.

A Small-Town Farm Kid Becomes The Hero

Luke Skywalker

Chosen ones and heroes can come from many backgrounds. But fantasy has an obsession with drawing its heroes from unassuming and unexpected locations. Frodo Baggins, happy in the Shire, is a good example. No one would have expected that a Hobbit could have been the key to tearing down the forces of Mordor.

Tatooine is the most important planet in Star Wars because its major heroes originated from the dust ball. Luke Skywalker lives on a farm and has dreams of seeing the galaxy. But his life definitely isn't one of heroics, and there's very little suggestion that he could become an all-powerful Jedi. But Star Wars uses that fantasy trope to its advantage, creating one of cinema's greatest leads. Ultimately, Luke's background makes him that much more relatable for the audience and allows him to serve as a point of view character into the galaxy.

The Slapstick Sidekick Causes Mayhem

R2-D2 & C-3PO

Comedy and fantasy go hand-in-hand. Terry Pratchett's Discworld contains some of the greatest literary comedy characters in the genre. While fantasy can be huge in its scale and ambitious in its stakes, there's always room for a little bit of levity, too. Indeed, fantasy can be much wackier than most genres, often because of the bizarreness of its premises.

In the case of Star Wars, the galaxy far, far away took the trope of having a comedic sidekick and applied the rules to droids. C-3PO and R2-D2 are thus some of the best slapstick sidekicks in fantasy history, with the duo often getting into trouble because of their antics but somehow always finding a way to help the heroes save the day. Some of the greatest stories from the original era feature those droids in almost Shakespearean comedy roles.

There's a Visit to a Tavern

Mos Eisley Cantina & Canto Bight

Dungeons & Dragons fans will be very familiar with the role of a tavern. Pubs, bars, and inns serve as vital locations in fantasy. It's a place for the hero to recoup, reserve their strength, rest, gather allies, and find out information. Taverns are full of unsavory folk and suspicious activities, but a fair few vigilantes have also been located among the regulars.

In the Star Wars galaxy, a medieval tavern wouldn't quite fit, but Mos Eisley Cantina does just the same job. It's a location that defines Han Solo as a character, demonstrates the depth of the Star Wars universe, and features a hive of scum and villainy. The cantina scene is one of the best in Star Wars history, and plenty of locations, like Canto Bight's gambling arena, have attempted to replicate the iconic atmosphere.

The Battle Between Good & Evil

The Dark & Light Side

Whether it's Willow or Merlin, the fight between good and evil has featured in almost every fantasy story. Voldemort and Sauron are just two examples of the biggest cinematic villains of all time and represent the darkness and corruption that can spread both in fantastical lands and, indeed, in the real world.

Star Wars has taken that constant struggle between good and evil and made it the focal point of every trilogy. The Dark and the Light are the two opposing sides in the galaxy far, far away, and they are represented by formidable figures like Darth Vader and Yoda, Palpatine, and Rey. Although Star Wars hasn't shied away from the complexity of what is right and wrong, at its core, it is about the triumph of good over evil.

There's a Villain Hiding In Plain Sight

Darth Sidious

Betrayal and backstabbing are constant sources of tension in the fantasy world, and hiding a villain in plain sight is a trope that can always lead to a satisfying twist reveal. Those who were once trusted, like Mad-Eye Moody, are suddenly shown to be something else entirely. It's a trope that's so familiar that it has been teased to create misdirection.

In Star Wars, Palpatine served as a seemingly harmless and dedicated senator for some time before his eventual ascension to the top of the Republic. He was once meek and overlooked, but it was all a ploy. His transformation into a Sith Lord reshaped the galaxy, with the fantastically written character deceiving even those closest to him.

A Faceless Army Carries Out Its Duty

Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers & Droids

Faceless armies are a terrifying way of creating a disconnect between the audience and the story. The use of Orcs in Lord of the Rings, for example, creates a sense that there's a monstrous enemy with no mercy or empathy heading toward the innocent. It's that removal of emotions that makes them so scary.

Star Wars contains so many different faceless armies, each of which is sinister in its own way. From the Clones, whose personalities are eventually stripped away as Order 66 begins, to the Droids and Stormtroopers, both programmed or trained to follow orders, faceless armies drive the conflicts of Star Wars. They become part of a larger machine, adding to the discourse around collective responsibility under corrupt regimes.

Communicating With the Deceased

Force Ghosts

Whether it's the fallen warriors of Lord of the Rings or Harry's parents in Harry Potter, the dead have often passed on knowledge or even helped out in battle across the fantasy landscape. It's not always the case that the underworld is immediately associated with evil, as the horror genre would often depict. In fact, the heroes of these fantasy tales have found great comfort in communicating with the realm beyond.

In Star Wars, Force ghosts have become an integral part of the lore. Luke talks with Yoda and sees his father and Ben Kenobi again. Kylo Ren speaks with Han Solo for a final time in a semi-Force ghost form, and Obi-Wan gets to have some closure with his mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn. Force ghosts are vital in passing stories from generation to generation, and that idea of connecting with ancestors has become a key moment in each Skywalker's journey.

Animals Become Symbolic

Purrgil, Loth-wolf & Morai

Animals have so often been a way to symbolize specific themes across fantasy. Game of Thrones uses animal companions to convey a lot of big ideas. The Stark Dire Wolves are a perfect example, representing the dynamics of the family and their eventual fate. The Starks were always stronger as a pack after all.

Star Wars has embraced its own animal mythology. The Purrgil recently represented new beginnings for Ahsoka, connecting with the former Jedi and taking her to an uncharted galaxy. The Loth-wolf has a special connection to Ezra Bridger, while Ahsoka's fate seems to be interwoven with that of the Owl, Morai. Animals represent the balance in the Force and those creatures that are innocent act as a catalyst to examining further themes of good and evil.

Star Wars

The original trilogy depictsthe heroic development of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and his fight against Palpatine's Galactic Empire alongside his sister, Leia. The prequels tell the tragic backstory of their father, Anakin, who is corrupted by Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader.

Created by

George Lucas

First Film

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Latest Film

Star Wars: Episode XI - The Rise of Skywalker

First TV Show

Star Wars: The Mandalorian

Latest TV Show

Ahsoka

Character(s)

Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , Princess Leia Organa , Din Djarin , Yoda , Grogu , Darth Vader , Emperor Palpatine , Rey Skywalker