concept
also: Fairy Tales & Folklore
The Chosen One
A young protagonist marked by prophecy or destiny to save their world.
Origin
The template is ancient (Moses, Arthur), but modern fantasy made it ubiquitous: Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Neo, Aang, Buffy. The hero is uniquely fated; the plot is usually their reluctant acceptance.
Modern usage
Used affectionately and mockingly. 'Chosen one trope' is now a meta term in storytelling discourse.
Tags
destiny
fantasy
hero