Almost any story you come across, from the heartwarming love sonnets to the thrilling adventures of our favorite heroes, I can guarantee that you’ve probably heard it before in one way or another.

The practice of writing fictional stories is quite literally a tale as old as time, originating from the times when mankind first learned to put pen to paper, or rather, chisel to stone. The hero’s journey, the star-crossed lovers, and the tyrannical government; these are all prime examples of stories that have been told not only in the work of today’s authors, but have made numerous appearances in works from the past as well. 

The novels that we consider “classics” contain a variety of fictional ideas, topics, and tropes that construct the backbone of mainstream entertainment and interests that are seen in today’s most common works of literary fiction.

Loads of classics have shown a significant influence over the ideas and development of young writers, influencing their style and ideas, leading to a series of recreations or adaptations from classic works, borrowing aspects of the stories to create a comforting, well-known story that will draw in the audience with a feeling of familiarity. 

A prime example of this occurrence is the age-old story, “The Odyssey,” composed by Homer in the mid-8th century BCE, and transcribed by scholars in the early 6th century BCE.  It recounts the adventures of the king and war hero Odysseus, describing his journey home, where he fights monsters and navigates hurdles in an effort to return to his kingdom. 

The adventurous and breathtaking outline of this story quickly became a basis for the stereotypical “Hero’s Journey” told in modern fiction. Numerous authors have drawn inspiration from Odysseus’ personality and the conflicts he faces to tell their own story, weaving elements of cunning into their main character and creating a series of trials and tribulations for them to encounter on their path to success. This formula has proven itself to be a steadfast and concrete chance at success in storytelling for today’s generation. 

Among other classics, parallels have been most prominently seen in love stories and the patriarchal structure of society in different eras.

For instance, Jane Austen’s novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” written in 1813, expresses the heart-warming and intriguing story of two enemies who learn to become lovers despite their familial and societal differences. The female lead character, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet, is a quick-witted, outspoken, and opinionated woman during a time when women were expected to be reserved and quiet. 

Her outstanding qualities are exactly what made her appeal not only to her love interest, the posh Mr Darcy, but also to centuries of generational audiences who saw her as a role model and entertaining character to follow. 

The attributes of her persona formed a general idea of what the public wanted to see in a strong female character. Authors consistently use the traits of Lizzy Bennet to create strong, no-nonsense female characters to rival and upstage the arrogant prejudice of how a woman should be represented. 

In “Pride and Prejudice,” the love story that unfolds between two of our most famous enemies-to-lovers faces trials, as a multitude of societal norms and misconceptions result in blocked communication and opposition to the love shared between the two souls. The creation of this trope has spread like wildfire across the literary community, becoming one of the most coveted tropes for a romance story.

Modern novels, such as “Twilight,” use a certain course of events, with an outcast lead female and a male love interest who comes from a different social grouping, telling the story of how they grew to love each other despite their differences and initial hatreds. 

Sound Familiar? That’s because books like “Twilight” drew inspiration from classic love stories, such as “Pride and Prejudice,” to tell a compelling story using pacing and plot devices that have proven effective in the past. 

Likewise, the old story of star-crossed lovers with warring families, seen originally in William Shakespeare’s global work of the 16th century, “Romeo & Juliet,” has been a coveted piece of literary fiction that captivates audiences and is used not only to teach morals and consequences of social restrictions, but also the complexity of what one would do for love. 

The lessons we learn about our society and culture from modern fiction also take roots in classical literature, as the early authors were the first ones to experiment with allusions to a tyrannical government. Ray Bradbury, one of the most notable American Authors, used his platform and storytelling in novels such as “Fahrenheit 451” to explore the consequences faced from a dystopian government that restricts the rights of their people. By foretelling these consequences, Bradbury motivated future authors to create works of modern fiction that describe the results of a society that faces censorship. With popular novels like Susan Collins ‘ “The Hunger Games,” the ideas expressed in classic novels such as “Fahrenheit 451” continue to be mainstream works, drawing attention and awareness.

So next time you pick up a novel, consider the tropes, outlines, and themes of the book and decide, Have I heard this story before?