Self-doubting heroes, the comedic sidekick, ill-fated star-crossed lovers, the hero that dies with honors... the strong, silent type; the tall, dark stranger; the willowy blond; the perky cheerleader...
Actually, there's this site that's cracking me up...
Clickie (15+ for language).
The epic battle. The big, grand castle/architecture. Northern European ethinicity (Celtic, Norse, British...)
"By the Deity's Private Parts! <-- Dialogue to avoid.
Dream sequences that unfold lik ea movie, conveying information to the reader that the character is afraid to face. Flashbacks.
Angry heroine. Elves, dwarves and orcs.
Erm... the hero and the villain holding their swords/guns to each other and exchanging words...
Stereotypical pirate: pegleg, eyepatch, hook for a hand, and a parrot on his shoulder, searching for buried treasure using a map with an 'x' marking the spot...
Vampire: long, black cape; slick black hair, Eastern European Accent.
A fruit stand being knocked over in a chase sequence.
The young, flawed and brooding 'antihero' - like Spiderman.
the prophesied chosen one who will save the world from darkness; the long-lost son of a king, prince, etc.
Rulers are depicted as entirely enlightened, nearly holy rulers or evil usurpers of the throne. Very much wrapped up in the nobility and justification for nobility.
Wise, gentle authority figures.
Orphaned hero.
Young protagonist, with a special ability, who has had a sheltered upbringing who is male, with an older mentor who is male with grey hair and a beard which is also grey and has magic powers who dies; with an evil enemy who wears black and is male, comes from the same place as the mentor and has one exploitable weakness which the protagonist can exploit; procures a group of friends from diverse backgrounds and they all word together until near the end when the protagonist goes alone and defeats the evil enemy and then they meet up and have a big celebration.
*loves that last paragraph* :P
Epic cliches
