Because I know I'll find at least two contradictory answers if I go searching, what is "whump" ?
Super valid, lol. That's actually a great question because I think a lot of people wonder the same thing. So, for all those wondering, here's my best description.
What is Whump?
I've heard whump described as "hurt/comfort" but very heavy on the "hurt" part.
In other words, it's a fanfiction trope in which the main character goes through a whole lot of torture and trauma, or just had a very bad day in general.
It's popular along us fanfic readers who love fics with lots of drama and angst. It can also be sweet - for example, after the main character has a bad day, their friend (or love interest, if you like shipping) comforts them, and it's adorable.
For example, maybe the main character gets kidnapped. Maybe they get seriously injured in battle. They might get hit with a terrible disease (there's a trope called a "sickfic" dedicated to that specifically).
Essentially, whump is like a trope dedicated to torturing your favorite little guys.
There's whump-related words that might help you understand, as well:
Whumper: Character doing the whump (causing the main character pain). Often a villain
Whumpee: The character getting "whumped" (having a VERY rough day)
Caretaker: The character who, as the title suggests, takes care of poor whumpee after everything happens.
If you'd like more info, I strongly recommend the videos "Popular Fandom Terminology" (both part 1 and part 2) by Coleydoesthings on Youtube. She goes into lots of fandom terms, including whump, and she's really good at explaining it.
Hope this helps!
To find out more about Whump, the history of the term and how its been used in fandom, check out the Fanlore page!

















