Which term refers to a recurring literary device or symbol used across many works?

• A. Trope
• B. Christ Figure
• C. New Criticism
• D. Gender

Answer: (A)

A trope is a conventional device, plot element, or character type that recurs across many works, helping readers recognize patterns and anticipate meaning. It encompasses familiar motifs like the mentor figure, the quest, or love triangles—things that show up again and again in literature and media. A Christ figure is a specific example of such a recurring type, but the broad term for these repeated devices is trope. New Criticism refers to a method of close, text-focused analysis, not a literary device, and gender describes social identity rather than a recurring device.