In writing, we are allowed a “creative freedom” where not everything we write has to be realistic to how it actually would happen in real life. One very common trope that shows this is when the hero is knocked out.

Likely after being hit over the head, the hero spends hours unconscious, only to wake up somewhere else. As if he had only been sleeping, the hero rises and then uses his (somehow perfectly fine) brain of his to escape.

The “knock over the head” is seen as a quick way to capture even the toughest of fighters, while offering up a change of scene without need of any travel descriptions.

In a fight against a villains hired thugs, the thugs are often knocked unconscious by the dozens. This is a quick way to have the thugs be immobilised without making the hero a killer.

In real life, those knocked-out like in the examples would either be dead, or in extreme need of medical care.

If you are knocked out for under a minute, a checkup is recommended. Over a minute, and you are supposed to be seen at an emergency care hospital for dangers such as internal bleeding of the brain.

That is just a single minute, and many fiction heroes are out for hours.

Even being if knocked out that long somehow does not kill you, you are still going to have some effects. Concussions are not fun, and can cause several symptoms; including light sensitivity, and more.

Concussion Symptoms

🔹Headache or “pressure” in head.
🔹Nausea or vomiting.
🔹Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
🔹Bothered by light or noise.
🔹Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
🔹Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
🔹Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”.

csc.gov

Added on top of all this is the fact that it is not that easy to knock-out someone. Even with professional fighters who are trying very hard to KO an opponent, it is not as common as both fighters finishing the fight without one.

So what can you do?

Well, you there is nothing wrong with wanting to use all the creative freedom you have, and keep up the knocked-out tradition. If that is what your story calls for, then use it.

Otherwise, perhaps you could raise the stakes for your hero by adding in some symptoms of a concussions that he will have to work through while also trying to survive.

As for the hired thugs? Well, that is a bit harder if you want to be realistic without making your character a killer. Perhaps the hero can use the environment to confine the thugs while fighting, or perhaps the hero can fight to escape then block the exit they used.

The choice to keep the knocked-out trope or not is completely up to you, I just wanted to share some facts for those who want to lean more towards what is realistic. However, leaning towards realistic does not have to be your goal. Write what story you need to.

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