Narrative/visual tropes in G4

I have a ton of notes on my writing project here, so I decided to sit down and figure out recurring themes that seem to perpetuate a canon MLP story. So, you know, the information would have a place somewhere other than my head.

Granted, much of this may seem redundant.

If you have anything to add, I would be grateful.

— Trees/magic trees (growth, seeds, restoration, self-actualization, nature); (prevailance of books can be seen as derivative from the trees?)

— Crystals and reflective surfaces (reflection, mirrors)

— Differences between individuals can make a group/community stronger (different hue of colors, reflection), individuals can impart lessons to each other

— There is the darkness in people's hearts, but they can let it go and be forgiven (growth, self-actualization); acceptance of who you are (purpose), right and wrong ways of gaining power and knowledge

— Figuring out a lesson from the past experiences (self-actualization)

— A genuine connections between individuals have great power (love, friendship, growth)

— The names have power and reflect their owner

— There are prophecies (destiny, purpose)

— The ponies have cutie marks (which reflect their special talent) as well as associated objects and colors (destiny, purpose, reflection, self-actualization)

— Horse puns

— 'Spirits' of concepts can have physical presence/manifestation ('Discord' the 'Spirit' of Chaos and Disharmony, nature, dreams, that one time with the Harmony/the Tree of Harmony)

— Number Six (Six Pillars, Mane 6, Young 6, Six Elements); lesser Three (three ruling alicorns, bar growing up Twilight. Three villains in 'Legion of Doom'. Three canon pony tribes)

— History tends to repeat itself (reflection, recurring villains); new generation uses knowledge of the previous one and deals with new problems better (self-actualization)

— The stars/allusion to the stars and celestial objects in names and designs of the leading characters (higher purpose?)

— The medieval/fantasy ruling system meets semi-modern towns and technology (reflection of reality)

— The magic can be interpreted both as science, and as something abstract. Both interpretations are valid (nature)

— Embraces sillyness and rolls with it

— The world naturally tries to organize itself and keep things in balance (wendigos, Elements of Harmony, etc.; nature)

— At the same time, the world gives out a sense of artificiality (Sun and Moon are moved manually, clouds need to be controlled, ponies, who live in accordance with nature, make preparations for the changing of seasons, etc.)

— A duality for harmonic purposes (Diarchy, Mane 6 composed by three pairs of members of each tribe, reflection)

Also Celestia is cute as a button when she uses Chrysalis' shapeshift powers in comics

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05.12.2023

— Fairy tale-like storytelling: designated protagonist is tasked with achieving an impossible goal. They succeed with the help of the supernatural forces, and receive some kind of reward in the end (self-actualization, purpose)

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11.21.2023

— When a character affirms their ascension to the ruler position or wrests the power from the others, someone gets turned into stone and/or shattered (reflection?, history repeats itself)
Discord (presumably) to Royal Sisters
Princess Amore to Sombra
Sombra (reduced to a horn/shattered, it is debatable that was corporeal to begin with) to Cadance
Three alicorns to Storm King
'Legion of Doom' to Twilight

also cockatrices

Comments

[Heavy Mole]

Nature, self-actualization, reflection, purpose.

May I suggest how these relate?

'Self-actualization' and 'reflection' are opposites. 'Reflection' is how we experience ourselves externally, in objects or in the perception of others; 'self-actualization' is what we can only know for ourselves in immediate emanance.

On the other hand...

'Nature' alludes to necessity, and necessity may be divided into laws on lower and higher scales; 'purpose', by contrast, is something subject to true hazard.

The 'self-actualization'/'reflection' axis encompasses what we can know; the 'nature'/'purpose' axis encompasses what we can believe.

Additionally, each term contains all four attributes: so you have nature's purpose, nature's reflection, and so on.

And nothing precludes a good horse pun.

[Forcalor]

5724734
That seems valid if you want to systematize
I was intentionally broad with those tags, though. I'm pretty sure that you can stretch definitions and apply them more.
Still, it is interesting to mull over, and your input is very on point.