Stock character
A character type recurring in literature, recognisable and conventional (e.g., the wise mentor, the innocent victim).
Real World
The bumbling comic sidekick is a stock character seen from Shakespeare's Bottom to Ron Weasley — instantly recognisable, they provide comic relief but can also be subverted to challenge audience expectations.
Exam Focus
When a writer subverts a stock character type, identify this explicitly — examiners reward recognition of deliberate genre manipulation.
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