Troperiffic Tuesday!: Chekhov’s Gun

Chick 1 says:

Welcome back to Troperiffic Tuesday!  This week we’re looking at one of the basic tenets of storytelling, Chekhov’s Gun.  The trope is based on a principle espoused by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.  Chekhov said it a variety of ways but it comes down to this, “If you have a gun on stage, it better go off before the end of the play.”

Chekhov’s Gun falls under the Law of Conservation of Detail which teaches writers to make every word, every bit of dialogue count.  If it doesn’t drive the story, don’t waste your precious time with it.  In movies you only have 90-120 minutes to tell a story, on TV only 22-43 minutes so every detail has to count.  Don’t introduce any element that distracts from the story.

The trope isn’t limited to guns or weapons.  In fact it’s created a variety of subgenres like Chekhov’s Skills and Chekhov’s Joke.  Chekhov’s Gun can also create Foreshadowing.  The opposite of Chekhov’s Gun is the Red Herring, an item or character introduced to fool the audience into thinking the story is going one way when it’s really going another. 

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are masters of Conservation of Detail and as a result, masters at using Chekhov’s Gun.  In both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz,  there are dozens of details that come back into play later in the movie like the swan that Sgt Angel chases through out Hot Fuzz.  The swan is a symbol of Angel’s frustration with his new quiet country life but it’s the swan that actually deals the final blow to the bad guy.

J.K. Rowling uses this trope almost to a fault.  By the 3rd or 4th  Harry Potter book/movie, the audience began to expect that whatever spell the trio learned in class would be crucial to defeating Voldemort at the  end.  What was great about this method is that learning the spells served several purposes.  First, it added to feel of the young wizards being at school but with a whimsical element.  Second, while the kids were studying they were also often passing on exposition to the audience while they were chatting.  And finally, Rowling was setting them up with the skills they’d need for the big finale.

Other Chekhov’s Guns include the Omega-13 in Galaxy Quest, Marion’s drinking skills in Raiders, and Tony’s first chest piece in Iron Man.  Slumdog Millionaire was one long set of Chekhov’s Guns as each episode of  Jamal’s life gives him what he needs for the game show. 

 And don’t forget ”No capes!” in The Incredibles.  Here’s proof that a good fashion designer can save your life!

Posted on by Chick 1 in Tropes 8,717 Comments

8,717 Responses to Troperiffic Tuesday!: Chekhov’s Gun

  1. préstamos rápidos

    Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thanks, However I am having issues with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t join it. Is there anybody having identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!

  2. 父親名義の家に火災保険

    The tune achieved a lot of its fame when it was carried out by Johnny Cash in his Folsom Prison live performance (At Folsom Prison).

  3. 含有 言い換え

    Allison Eckel, Burlington County, New Jersey.

  4. 1週間 休み 1人

    There, he meets Fang Yu, heir of a giant conglomerate, who’s groomed to turn into the next successor.

  5. 大和 証券 ポイント 交換 サービス

    Ke6, however determined towards it as he “did not wish to play a dark ocean form of position”.

  6. 湯文傑黑店

    Hi! I just would like to offer you a big thumbs up for your excellent information you have got here on this post. I will be coming back to your website for more soon.

  7. おまたせ アイスティーすら

    Earnest Behrend died Monday, May tenth, in Harlan.

  8. Hamilton Lindley Waco

    This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Appreciate it.

  9. 虫刺され痒い

    Schlenther, Boyd Stanley. “Thomson, Charles”.

  10. ブイキューブ株価掲示板

    Ding replied instantly with 35.Rxe6, and Nepomniachtchi positioned his head on the taking part in desk and lined himself with his fingers as he realised he had blundered and given away the equality.

  11. Gas safety checks

    I was checking through the internet for some information since yesterday night and I finally found what i was looking for! This is a magnificent website by the way, although it seems to be a little difficult to see in my android phone.

  12. near me plumber

    Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers?

  13. Crypto

    After I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the exact same comment. Perhaps there is a way you are able to remove me from that service? Cheers.

  14. ニコニコ 掲示板 検索

    Morgan, Leigh (October 14, 2021).

  15. sex trẻ em

    This page certainly has all the information and facts I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.

  16. distribution Kuwait

    Spot on with this write-up, I really believe that this site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the information!

  17. asics gel kayano 14

    Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t join it. Is there anyone else getting the same RSS issues? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx.

  18. pornbrick.com

    What’s up, jujst wabted too say, I enjoted thi post.
    It was helpful. Keeep onn posting!

  19. tubidy mp3

    Excellent article. I will be going through some of these issues as well..

  20. Bitcoin

    Hi there, I think your website may be having browser compatibility issues. When I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Besides that, great website.

  21. Best Stocks

    Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thanks, However I am having difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else getting the same RSS issues? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  22. Judi Poker

    I needed to thank you for this very good read!! I definitely loved every bit of it. I have got you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…

  23. Genius Wave Download

    After checking out a number of the blog posts on your blog, I honestly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I book marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site as well and tell me how you feel.

  24. tarot visa

    You’re so awesome! I do not suppose I’ve read anything like this before. So great to find someone with a few genuine thoughts on this topic. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is something that is required on the web, someone with a bit of originality.

  25. ストレスが溜まる原因

    EBay has been one of many above firms and the primary site that uses the facility of user-generated feedback media.

  26. 最初に発言する 慣用句

    Style has an incredible collection of ghagra choli and lehengas with quite a lot of designs, patterns, blouse kinds, and so on.

  27. โดจิน มาใหม่ ค่ำคืนก่อนอ

    Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful post. Many thanks for supplying this info.

  28. Fintech Domains

    Having read this I thought it was rather informative. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  29. 33win

    Introducing to you the most prestigious online entertainment address today. Visit now to experience now!

  30. tubidy

    May I simply just say what a relief to find somebody who genuinely understands what they are talking about on the internet. You actually understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people should check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular since you certainly possess the gift.

  31. Iwin Club

    Introducing to you the most prestigious online entertainment address today. Visit now to experience now!

  32. Nichelle Tietz

    Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am having difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody else getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!

  33. 一億円 資産 人口

    Associate with essentially the most wanted destination marriage ceremony planner in Delhi, so you may sit back and relax whilst we deliver a memorable occasion to you.

  34. www.crypto30x.com

    After I initially left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the exact same comment. There has to be a way you are able to remove me from that service? Many thanks.

  35. plumber cost

    I just added this blog to my rss reader, excellent stuff. I like your writing style.

  36. Stance socks

    This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Thanks.

  37. Slab leak repair

    I am extremely impressed with your writing talents well with the layout on your weblog. Is that this a paid theme or did you customize it your self? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s uncommon to peer a great weblog like this one nowadays.

  38. prostavive official website

    Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful article. Thank you for supplying this information.

  39. Emergency plumbing

    Anyone want to add me on Words With Friends? All my other games are inactive UN: SureAsLiz|SureAsLiz|

  40. Outside taps

    I think other web site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and excellent user genial style and design, let alone the content. You’re an expert in this topic!

  41. Jasa Pembuatan Maket Batam

    I blog quite often and I truly appreciate your information. Your article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  42. オサム 予想

    Members are earning profits online proper now as you read this text.

  43. nervogen pro

    Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you, However I am experiencing difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else having the same RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx.

  44. 789 club

    Introducing to you the most prestigious online entertainment address today. Visit now to experience now!

  45. 24 hour plumber near me

    Can anyone help me out? It will be much appreciated.

  46. 御殿場日の出

    June accomplished a ebook that was launched in April 2021 below her full name, Valerie June Hockett.

  47. 贅沢税 アメリカ

    Annie MCCLURE, Idaho and Mrs.

  48. plumbing and heating near me

    Would love to perpetually get updated outstanding website ! .

  49. 日経平均 推移

    It will probably win a girls’s coronary heart in a blink of an eye.

  50. だもんで tシャツ

    Hassler’s novels have several recurring characters, including Miles Pruitt (the protagonist in Staggerford, who’s referred to in A Inexperienced Journey, The Love Hunter, and The new Girl); Agatha McGee (in Staggerford, A Green Journey, Expensive James, The Staggerford Flood, and The new Girl); Larry Quinn (within the Love Hunter and Rookery Blues); and Frank Healy (in North of Hope and The new Lady).

Add a Comment