8 George R.R. Martin Tropes And What They Really Mean

7. All Myths Are True

What It Is: In fantasy, the All Myths Are True trope basically means that every myth, legend or folk tale within the world of the story is a completely accurate description of the past. These are normally scoffed at by certain characters and clung to as truth by others. What It Really Means: The All Myths Are True trope is used by Martin as a great (and slightly more subtle) way of delivering plot exposition. Characters would have no reason to sit around and discuss the history of the world on a day to day basis, but they can reference legends and myths, and tell these legends and myths to other characters who may not have heard them (or in order to try and teach them a lesson, commonly adults speaking to children) In doing so, Martin provides readers with context and colours the world in which his stories are set. He can introduce the dragons well before they hatch from Daenerys' eggs, clue readers into the threat of the Others (or White Walkers as they're commonly known) and Blood Magic, and expand on all kinds of different details without having any of his characters sit down with another and explain everything through straight, boring exposition. Painting these details as myth also retains the possibility that they may not be true if they aren't ultimately used in the overall story, even though the reader knows otherwise.