Fantasy Tropes: Back From The Dead

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]In fantasy, certain tropes appear again and again, almost like clockwork. For every dark lord, there is always a chosen one destined to oppose them. And more often than not, we can expect the protagonist to fulfill that role. Yet, among these familiar patterns, few have proven as widespread, appearing in nearly every major fantasy story in the past century, as the return of a character from the dead. Think Aslan, Gandalf, Jon Snow, and countless others.

[00:00:26]But, where did this trope of resurrected heroes originate?

[00:00:29]Why has it become so deeply embedded in the fantasy genre? And how has it been used across different stories?

[00:00:36]Today, I'll explore these questions and more as we dive into the trope of coming back from the dead.

[00:00:46]Hey, I'm Aaron with Large Lad. And this is a continuation of our fantasy trope series. If you enjoy this, please like, comment, and subscribe. And please stick around as there'll be more entries into this trope series. And in addition to tropes, we'll also talk about characters, locations, and fantasy genres as a whole. I will be avoiding examples like zombies, Frankenstein, and ghosts, along with cases where characters return fundamentally changed or entirely different beings, as those deserve a discussion of their own since they usually stem from a very different narrative idea. Anyway, throughout the history of storytelling and religion, resurrection has often been used as a powerful narrative device. The most famous example is the resurrection of Jesus, who, according to Christian tradition, rose 3 days after being crucified and buried. However, the trope itself predates this story by thousands of years. In ancient Mesopotamia, for instance, it was believed that the winter crop and infertility were caused by the death of the god Tammuz. Each year, he was restored to life by his lover Ishtar, who rescued him from the underworld and returned him to the land of the living. Similarly, in Egyptian mythology, the god Osiris, once ruler of the world, was dismembered and scattered across Egypt before Isis reassembled, embalmed, and mummified him. He was reborn as the god of the underworld. In fact, stories of important figures returning from the dead appear nearly every religious tradition.

[00:02:00]The Norse god Odin, the Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl, and many others all have associated myths involving death and renewal. Often, these stories were meant to emphasize a deity's importance, frequently tying them to natural cycles like agriculture, or to demonstrate the power and resilience. While the details and methods of resurrection vary widely, the outcome is usually the same, a return that reinforces the figure's significance. By the 20th century, many fantasy writers recognized just how much narrative weight resurrection could carry. Drawing on these ancient traditions, they began incorporating the trope in their own stories, giving it new life in the modern genre.

[00:02:34]One of the first, if not the first, notable cases of resurrection in modern fantasy appears in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. To save the traitor Edmund, Aslan sacrifices himself on the Stone Table, an act that invokes an ancient deep magic and ultimately leads to his resurrection. As many have noted, this moment functions as a direct allegory for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It would also set the precedent for many fantasy resurrections to follow, each carrying its own cause and thematic significance for both the character and the plot. In cases like Doctor Who, it's easy to see why resurrection, or regeneration in the show's terminology, became a central device. By recasting the lead actor and providing an in-universe explanation, the series can continue for as long as its audience supports it. Across its original 26 seasons and 15 revival seasons over more than 60 years, there have been 15 incarnations of the Doctor played by 14 different actors. Each regeneration allows the incoming actor to reinterpret the character while preserving the continuity, an achievement that few works in fantasy or television have managed to replicate.

[00:03:36]One of the most frequently cited modern examples of a character returning from the dead is Harry Potter.

[00:03:41]Though it's worth noting that his experience is closer to a near-death event than a true resurrection. In this case, the emphasis is less on his return and more his willingness to face Lord Voldemort directly, thereby symbolically becoming the master of death. This stands in contrast to Voldemort, who fears death above all else and goes to an extreme length to avoid it. Ultimately, this dynamic, along with the triumph of love over evil, forms one of the central thematic threads of the Harry Potter series.

[00:04:07]With the resurrection element functioning more as a narrative device than a primary force, proving it to be somewhat of an exception with resurrections in fantasy. Though, coming back from the dead can sometimes be seen as negative, especially through the use of black magic, evil summoning, and so on. This is rarely the case with heroes.

[00:04:22]In fantasy, resurrections more often tend to be used as a mean of guiding a protagonist, like Obi-Wan's return as a Force ghost, or showing that a character has been enlightened or reached a higher state of being. The most notable instance of this is undoubtedly Gandalf the Grey in The Lord of the Rings.

[00:04:36]Following a multi-day battle with the Balrog, starting in the Mines of Moria, Gandalf's mortal form expires when the two powerful beings kill each other.

[00:04:44]However, in The Two Towers, Gandalf is then brought back to life by the supreme god of Tolkien's universe and promoted to Gandalf the White, more powerful and wise than ever, a truly pure wizard. By contrast, in HBO's Game of Thrones, Jon Snow is resurrected by the Red Woman, and it's treated as something much darker. While he can still come back as himself, he isn't entirely the same. The Jon who once valued honor above all immediately hangs his assassins and abandons his post at the Night's Watch.

[00:05:10]Where he was once compassionate and thoughtful, he now proves himself ruthless and decisive. Of course, it's worth noting that this applies only to the TV show version of Jon Snow.

[00:05:19]In the books, he remains dead, or at least bound with his wolf, and only The Winds of Winter, if it ever comes out, will tell us if the novels take a similar trajectory. However, some other characters have been brought back from the dead for varying reasons.

[00:05:33]It is believed that Beric Dondarrion, who is repeatedly revived by Thoros of Myr, is resurrected to lead the Brotherhood Without Banners in protecting the small folk and fighting the darkness. But then, after finding a dead Catelyn Stark, he gives his life for hers. After this, she roams the countryside as Lady Stoneheart, killing the Lannisters and Freys in revenge of the Red Wedding. As such, resurrection in A Song of Ice and Fire can be somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes it's used as a tool for protection, and other times it's used as a tool for revenge.

[00:06:01]Whether or not this is part of some larger scheme, which would unify these purposes under a single cause, remains to be seen in the future. Regardless of this cause or thematic reasoning behind it, nearly every fantasy story includes some instance of a character returning from the dead. Sometimes to provide guidance, sometimes to enact revenge, and sometimes to reach a new stage of power. This also raises another question. With this trope being so prevalent in fantasy, has it been played out by this point? In comics, it's often been said that nobody stays dead except Bucky, Uncle Ben, and Jason Todd. Of course, anyone familiar with comics can tell you that two of those three have been back from the dead for quite some time. In fact, following the Death of Superman event 1993, nearly every major comic book character has been killed off at one point or another, only to later be brought back to life as a surprise to absolutely no one. In the medium of comics, death and subsequent resurrections have undeniably been overused by this point, almost to the extent that it's not even a question of if a dead character will return, but when. But, what about fantasy? Well, not really. In every fantasy story, even if the resurrection is a theme, it only remains so for as long as the story continues. Ergo, Gandalf has only died and been resurrected once within the narrative, whereas Superman has been brought back to life dozens of times over the years, with a few of those returns remaining long-term canon. Each instance dulling the impact of the death and resurrection. It rarely adds anything substantial to the story, rarely amounts to anything meaningful, and rarely keeps the reader captivated.

[00:07:22]By contrast, if The Winds of Winter reveals that Jon Snow comes back from the dead, it can still be impactful, depending on how George R.R. Martin handles it. Jon's resurrection could fuel the story further, push the boundaries of his characterization, and ultimately contribute to the ending.

[00:07:36]Even if it's expected, it can still carry weight depending on its execution.

[00:07:39]Basically, where a medium like comics often uses this trope because it doesn't want to lose a major character yet, but still wants a shocking publication, fantasy writers typically use it to further the plot or deepen characterization. In fantasy, characters returning from the dead will always have the potential for compelling storytelling, especially when it's done well, as it usually is. This means the trope may never truly be played out in fantasy when handled effectively. No more than magic, dragons, or any other recurring theme in the genre. All right, and those are my thoughts on the back from the dead trope. As always, if you enjoyed the video and you watched the whole thing through, please like, comment, and subscribe. Let me know what you think, and get ready for the next trope. And in the comments below, let me know what your thoughts are on characters coming back from the dead.