A Guide to Orphan Tropes

The Sad Little Orphan-the fact they don't have parents is enough to melt the audience's hearts. They are just accessories used to pull your heartstrings.

The Happy Adoption- blood doesn't matter at all! My real parents are the ones who raised me! I accept my adoption like a good adoptee and move on with my life. Ever watch Disney's Hercules and the song he sings once his parents spring on his teenage self: "By the way, we adopted you." Yes. That's it right there. Nothing to see here, just an innocent adoptee questioning "where do I come from?" without any other deep feelings or emotions that last longer than...a song or so.

Being an orphan made me stronger - The protagonists are witty, strong, and get the job done. Why? Because they've already suffered and know a thing or too about the world. Jane Eyre, Tom Sawyer, Frodo Baggins,

Orphan's Gift- something the orphan has from their birthparents. An invisibility cloak in Harry Potter. Or Esmeralda's little baby shoe in the Notre-Dame de Paris that will lead her to her birthparents.

The Hero Orphan or Adoptee- the parents are dead, but guess what? The child is the chosen one! Harry Potter, King Arthur, any Disney character, Esmeralda from Notre-Dame, Quasimodo from Notre-Dame, Cosette from Les Mis, need I go on? No parents, no problem.

The Cinderella Orphan/Adoptee- the birthparent married the evil stepmother, or maybe the mother was killed, leaving the child in the hands of abusive caretakers. Either way, that kid has a broom in their hand and they're sweeping the floors. Cinderella, Harry Potter, Sarah Crew (A Little Princess), Cosette (Les Mis), and Little Orphan Annie.

Raised in an Orphanage, Turned into a villain - Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter Series) and the Grinch (The Grinch Stole Christmas Movie). Isn't Voldemort enough?