History Main / ItWasAGift

Contrast GiveMeASword, which is temporary -- though it may convert into this after the fight is over. SuperTrope of SupernaturalAid. See AncestralWeapon and ProtectiveCharm for common gifts.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'': mostly skips over Galadriel's gift giving, only mentioning her gift to Frodo. But in a deleted scene Gimli talks about his gift - Galadriel wasn't sure what to give him, so he asked for a single strand of hair from her head, and she gave him three. Legolas's surprised smile, and Gimli's satisfied tone, make this a rather heartwarming scene - especially if the viewer is familiar with [[AllThereInTheManual the origin of the Silmarils]].
** Earlier, the trope is invoked when Aragorn - prior to setting out with the Fellowship - attempts to return the Evenstar pendant which Arwen had given him as a sign of her intention to choose a mortal life with him. She's hurt by the action and tells him, "[[InvokedTrope It was a gift.]] Keep it."

* In ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfShanShan'', [[http://shanshan.upperrealms.com/view.php?pageid=014&chapterid=1 Cassie has a lunchbox from her]] DisappearedDad.
* In ''Webcomic/AliceAndTheNightmare'', Alice gets a collar-like necklace with a mirror from her mentor, who tells her that with this, her strength will be Alice's strength. It's as transparent a ChekhovsGun as any.
* In the webcomic ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'', Daniel Ti'Fiona long wore a signature robe; in a flashback we finally learn it was given to him by his friend Wildy San when he graduated from Adventurers School.
* The ring in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040705 "Some kind of connector from the gas system]] turned to a ring by Gil during his abortive marriage proposal, to give to Agatha, worn by Agatha until she needed to fake her death, found by Gil on what appeared to be her body, worn by Gil on a chain about his neck thereafter. She was quite touched when she realized that.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt''

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': James Ironwood grooms Winter Schnee's career since he wants her to inherit the Winter Maiden powers. However, when he tries claiming credit for this at the end of the eighth volume, she angrily says he chose nothing because she was given a gift. [[spoiler: Penny Polendina chooses Winter to receive the Winter Maiden powers to protect them from Cinder Fall, because she trusts her and she considers Winter her friend. Winter's transformation is thus rooted in Penny's sacrifice, their relationship, and their rejection of everything Ironwood stood for.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': James Ironwood grooms Winter Schnee's career since he wants her to capable of inheriting the Winter Maiden powers. However, when he tries claiming credit for this at the end of the eighth volume, she angrily says he chose nothing because she was given a gift. [[spoiler: Penny Polendina chooses Winter to receive the Winter Maiden powers to protect them from Cinder Fall, because she trusts her and she considers Winter her friend. Winter's transformation is thus rooted in Penny's sacrifice, their relationship, and their rejection of everything Ironwood stood for.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Ironwood groomed Winter's career so that she would be capable of inheriting the Winter Maiden powers, the very thing he wanted her to have. However, when he tries to claim credit for this in Volume 8, she angrily tells him that he chose nothing because she was given a gift. [[spoiler: Penny chooses Winter to receive the Winter Maiden powers to protect them from Cinder, because she has faith in her and she considers Winter her friend. Winter's transformation is therefore rooted in Penny's sacrifice, their relationship, and their rejection of everything Ironwood stood for.]]

** Triela has this attitude to the weapons issued to her by her handler Hilshire. She doesn't react well when her pistol is taken off her [[DistaffCounterpart Pinocchio]], and when Hilshire suggests upgrading to a more modern shotgun she refuses to give up her Winchester trench gun, even though [[BlessedWithSuck thanks to her increasing memory loss]] she can no longer remember where she got it.

* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': While not as largely plot-impacting as the rest of the things from this page, it can be seen in a few chapters that Rico has a cuddling pillow. Considering the cold, aloof fish that Jean is, it seems out-of-character for him to give her something like that, until we see in a flashback that Enrica has one too, likely a gift from her AloofBigBrother. This serves to show us cracks in Jean's "jerk mask".

* In ''Literature/{{Beowulf}}'' both the king and queen honor him with a gift of a ring.
* In Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Literature/BranMakMorn'' story "Kings of the Night", the MineralMacGuffin was given to Bran's ancestor by Kull.
* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' Jerin owns a piece of jewelery his grandfather gave him. It turns out [[spoiler: to be the "Emerald Hart", a famous piece of jewelry, and serves as hint to Jerin's royal ancestry -- his grandpa was a prince.]]
* In ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 The Carrion Thone]]'' by Chris Wraight, Interrogator Spinoza's prized possession is her Crozius Arcanum. This was gifted to her by a Chaplain when she once had an assignment with Space Marine chapter, the Imperial Fists. Not only did Chaplain Erastus give her his personal scrimshawed, bone-encased sacred weapon, he had it resized for her human hands and trained her how to use the still massive weapon effectively. This gift and extra services are especially generous as Space Marines and the Inquisition normally don't get along.
* In John C. Wright's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfChaos'' Mrs. Wren gave them -- peculiar birthday gifts. Romus also gives Amelia and Quentin gifts in ''Fugitives of Chaos''.
* Creator/CSLewis's ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', Peter, Susan, and Lucy receive magical gifts from Father Christmas. When they find themselves back at Cair Paravel in ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'', the first things they retrieve from their treasury are the Gifts.
* Creator/LloydAlexander's ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'':

* The tarot cards Jocelyn gave Dorothea in ''Literature/{{City of Bones|2007}}'', [[spoiler:which contained the Mortal Cup]].
* In Sherwood Smith's ''Literature/CrownDuel'', the ring the heroine receives from an anonymous admirer, and still more the ring she had made to reciprocate, move the plot in several instances.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
** In Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/AHatFullOfSky'' and ''Literature/{{Wintersmith}}'', the silver necklace that Roland gives Tiffany features significantly in both plots. In the latter it proves to be a ClingyMacGuffin.

* In Creator/SarahAHoyt's ''Literature/DrawOneInTheDark'', they discuss the possibility that [[spoiler:murders]] are in fact mating gifts between [[spoiler:shapechanging beetles]].

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''
** In ''Fool Moon'', because both Harry and Murphy have received gifts of silver from family, they can fight the [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent loup-garou]] as it can only be harmed by ''inherited'' silver.
** In ''Grave Peril'', Bianca gives gifts at her party. Many are {{Chekhovs Gun}}s.
** Averted in ''Summer Knight'' where [[spoiler:Queen Mother Winter, on par with the Archangels in terms of strength]] tells Harry [[spoiler:the [[AntiMagic Unraveling]]]] is not a ''gift'' but a necessity so he can save the day. [[spoiler:It also spares Harry from being indebt to Mother Winter for accepting it]].
** Also ''Small Favor'', after Harry talks with Jake ([[AngelUnaware who is the janitor -- really]]), Jake vanishes, leaving behind a copy of ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings The Two Towers]]'', which opens on some -- interesting passages.
* In Creator/AletheaKontis's ''Literature/{{Enchanted}}'', "far-to-go" Thursday ran off and married a pirate -- and sends marvelous gifts. One such packet proves to be significant in the events of the novel. Sunday also brings a bucket to the frog, as a gift.
* {{Excalibur}} is sometimes said to be a gift from Myth/TheLadyOfTheLake to Myth/KingArthur.
* In the ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'' official {{novelization}}, Dr. [[Characters/MonsterVerseMonarch Serizawa]] goes to Vivienne Graham's old room in Castle Bravo and he finds a pendant which belonged to his father, who passed it on to him, and he in turn passed it on to Graham. [[spoiler:He thinks about who it should pass on to now after Graham has been killed by Ghidorah, before concluding that it's come back to him]].
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcedence]]'', Phaethon, Helion, Daphne, and Diomedes are all given gifts by the Transcedence.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter''
** ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone'': Hagrid buys Harry an owl, after Harry objects that he doesn't have to, and Hagrid gruffly replies that he knows he doesn't have to.

* In Suzanne Collins's ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', the pin Madge gives Katniss makes the mockingjay an immensely significant symbol. All the more so when she learns in ''Catching Fire'' that the aunt it had belonged to [[spoiler:died in the Games]]. Also, the pearl [[spoiler:Peeta]] gives her in ''Catching Fire''.
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/TheImmortalBard": Dr Welch has Creator/WilliamShakespeare's signature as a keepsake from the time he visited, written on the back of a business card for a hardware store.

* Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':

-->"Filthy Baggins lies! It was our birthday present, precious. ''([[VerbalTic gollum]])'' Gives it back to us!"[[note]]It actually ''was'' a gift from Bilbo to Frodo. With Gollum ... not so much. It was originally found by his brother Deagol. Smeagol says that, since it's his birthday, Deagol should give it to him as a present. When Deagol refuses, Smeagol kills him and takes it.[[/note]]
** And there are the cool gifts that Galadriel gave the members of the Fellowship, including the Phial.

* In Teresa Frohock's ''Literature/MiserereAnAutumnTale'', Lucian still carries the Psalter his mother gave him, wrapped in a scarf that Rachael gave him.
* In Creator/ErinMorgenstern's ''Literature/TheNightCircus'', when Bailey meets a girl at the circus, she gives him a glove. This plays a significant role in his later returns.
* Numerous items in Rick Riordan's ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' are given as gifts. Those from the gods are particularly likely to be important. [[spoiler:Though the knife that Luke gave Annabeth proved to be the most important.]]
* In Norton Juster's ''Literature/ThePhantomTollbooth'', Milo receives many gifts: words, a calculating pencil, laughter, a telescope that shows what things really are. These prove essential when facing the demons of ignorance.
* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Literature/ProsperosDaughter Prospero Lost]]'', when the woman in a thrift shop asks if Miranda wants to sell her Edwardian dress, Miranda contents herself with saying it was a gift from her sister for why not.

* In Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/SmithOfWoottonMajor'', Smith found a silver coin in his piece of the Great Cake, and gave it to Nell because she was disappointed in not finding a trinket in her own. They end up married when they grow up.
* In Creator/JasperFforde's ''[[Literature/ThursdayNext Something Rotten]]'', Thursday gives Hamlet a gift at the end: [[spoiler:Alan the dodo]].

* In Creator/LewisCarroll's ''Literature/SylvieAndBruno'', their father offers Sylvie a choice of lockets for her birthday present: one says, "All will love Sylvie" and the other "Sylvie will love all." Sylvie chooses the latter. [[spoiler:In the end, it turns out they were one locket. [[SecretTestOfCharacter Nevertheless, she made the right choice]].]]
* In Creator/PatriciaCWrede's ''Literature/ThirteenthChild'', when Miss Ochiba leaves, she gives William and Eff books to study, and when Eff cries, gives her a handkerchief as well.

* Subverted in ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'', where d'Artagnan starts out with three gifts from his father: a [[CoolSword sword]], a horse, and a letter of introduction so he can join the Musketeers. By the end of the first chapter he has lost the letter, the sword has been broken in his first duel, and he has sold the horse (which was an ancient nag with a ridiculous colour).
* In ''[[Literature/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There]]'', Humpty Dumpty's cravat was given to him by the King and Queen as an "unbirthday present".
* In Creator/WenSpencer's ''Literature/{{Tinker}}'', Windwolf gives Tinker a brazier, which is a traditional gift.
* ''Literature/TortallUniverse''
** In Tamora Pierce's ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' quartet, Kel receives gifts from a then [[AnonymousBenefactor unknown "benefactor"]]. Some of these items are rather pricey. Not only that, they are particularly useful to a girl in knight-training. Among them are magical bruise balm, exercise equipment to strengthen her arms, a saddle for her horse, and a new knife [[spoiler: and matching sword]]. The "mysterious benefactor" turns out to be [[spoiler:Sir Alanna, the first lady knight, who presumably, as the sole heir of two large estates]], has money to burn. It's implied that these gifts are [[spoiler:things Alanna wished she had as a page/squire]]. An exceptionally notable and heartwarming payment was when Kel got to keep Peachblossom for ''four years.''

* In Creator/RuthFrancesLong's ''Literature/TheTreacheryOfBeautifulThings'', Jenny's necklace with the heart-shaped locket.
* In Creator/MichaelFlynn's ''[[Literature/SpiralArm Up Jim River]]'', the harper's mother gave her a necklace. It proves significant in the quest for the mother.
* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
** In ''Literature/ShardsOfHonor'', Cordelia finds Aral in a drunken stupor and a colorful tropical shirt. The shirt turns out to be a gift from the men who served with him at a former post, most of whom are dead.
** In ''Literature/ACivilCampaign'', Miles shows Ekaterin the scalps in the attic -- presumably presented to his grandfather by his subordinates. As they are presents, doing anything with them is complicated.

** William King's ''Literature/SpaceWolf'' novel ''Wolfblade'' recounts [[FamedInStory a story]] that, among other things, tells how Ragnar got his [[CoolSword frostblade]]. Indeed, in the FrameStory, explaining it is the motive for telling the story.
** In Simon Spurrier's ''Lord of the Night'''s BackStory, the Night Haunter had named Sahaal his heir and decreed that he should receive the ''[[RequisiteRoyalRegalia Corona Nox]]'' as a symbol of that, which was why it's being lost was so important.
** ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': In Chris Roberson's ''Dawn of War II'', the governor tries to justify having the SpaceMarine sword [[CoolSword Wisdom]] by claiming it was a gift. It doesn't save him.
** In Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novel, Ibram Gaunt's swords are both gifts. His first came from the hand of his dead mentor, [=General-Commissar=] Oktar. When [[WreckedWeapon it is ruined in battle]], he receives the power sword of Hieronymo Sondar, the founder of Vervunhive, while he tries to defend it in ''Necropolis'', and carries that sword thereafter.
* In Creator/EDBaker's ''Literature/TheWideAwakePrincess'', Gwendolyn is showered with gifts for her sixteenth birthday. [[spoiler:One of them the fatal spinning wheel.]]
* In Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin's ''Literature/AWizardOfEarthsea'', Ged finds an island with an old man and woman. He deduces from the dress the woman shows him -- rich, for a child -- that they had been abandoned there. She gives him half of an armring. In ''Literature/TheTombsOfAtuan'', this gift is his driving motivation for his actions.

* In Diana Wynne Jones' ''[[Literature/DarkLordOfDerkholm Year of the Griffin]]'', referring to a notebook.

* On ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', the pendant that Dean ''always'' wears around his neck was a gift from [[spoiler: his brother Sam]], who [[{{Anvilicious}} gave it to him to show]] that [[spoiler: Sam considered Dean more of a parent than their father John. (The pendant was originally to be a Christmas gift for their father.]] "Always", that is, until [[spoiler: season five, when it turns out to be [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest a tool for locating God]], and he ''reluctantly'' lends it to Castiel.]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'': mostly skips over Galadriel's gift giving, only mentioning her gift to Frodo. But in a deleted scene Gimli talks about his gift - Galadriel wasn't sure what to give him, so he asked for a single strand of hair from her head, and she gave him three. Legolas's surprised smile, and Gimli's satisfied tone, make this a rather heartwarming scene - especially if the viewer is familiar with [[AllThereInTheManual the origin of the Silmarils]].
** Earlier, the trope is invoked when Aragorn - prior to setting out with the Fellowship - attempts to return the Evenstar pendant which Arwen had given him as a sign of her intention to choose a mortal life with him. She's hurt by the action and tells him, "[[InvokedTrope It was a gift.]] Keep it."

* ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'': The titular character sells all of his belongings, including a collection of expensive watches, to pay for experimental surgeries. The only thing he keeps is a watch given to him by his OldFlame, Christine Palmer. The inscription on the back side of the watch says: "Time will tell how much I love you, Christine". His refusal to give up the watch to attackers in Kathmandu leads to him meeting Mordo, who introduces him to the Ancient One.
* ''Film/JohnWick'': The bad guys steal John Wick's car and kill his dog. The dog was the last gift that John received from his now-dead wife. Cue RoaringRampageOfRevenge.

* In Creator/RobertEHoward's Literature/BranMakMorn story "Kings of the Night", the MineralMacGuffin was given to Bran's ancestor by Kull.

* In Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/SmithOfWoottonMajor'', Smith found a silver coin in his piece of the Great Cake, and gave it to Nell because she was disappointed in not finding a trinket in her own. They end up married when they grow up.
* In Creator/PoulAnderson's "Literature/ALittleKnowledge", Harker has his men hanging about and gives them a cover story that he's giving an alien a gift, and they are waiting until he's done.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/TheImmortalBard": Dr Welch has Creator/WilliamShakespeare's signature as a keepsake from the time he visited, written on the back of a business card for a hardware store.

** As is eventually revealed in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the Buster Sword was a gift from a dying Zack to Cloud, which sort of explains why it can never be sold (polygonal limitations explains the rest). In ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', the Buster Sword was a gift from a dying Angeal to Zack, who then used it exclusively (but only the blunt side, in order to "[[OrnamentalWeapon prevent wear, tear, and rust]]"). Even before ''that'', the Buster Sword was a gift from Angeal's very poor parents to Angeal when he joined SOLDIER.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Ironwood groomed Winter's career so that she would be capable of inheriting what he wanted her to have. However, when he tries to claim credit for this in Volume 8, she angrily tells him that he chose nothing because she was given a gift. [[spoiler: Penny chooses Winter to receive the Winter Maiden powers to protect them from Cinder, because she has faith in her and she considers Winter her friend. Winter's transformation is therefore rooted in Penny's sacrifice, their relationship, and their rejection of everything Ironwood stood for.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Ironwood groomed Winter's career so that she would be capable of inheriting what he wanted her to have. However, when he tries to claim credit for this in Volume 8, she angrily tells him that he chose nothing because she was given a gift. [[spoiler:In Volume 8, Penny chooses Winter to receive the Winter Maiden powers to protect them from Cinder, because she knows the original plan was for Winter to receive them, and because Winter is her friend. Winter's transformation is therefore rooted in Penny's sacrifice, their relationship, and their rejection of everything Ironwood stood for.]]

* Used in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Tara offers Willow a dolls-eye crystal that belonged to her grandmother, but Willow refuses on the grounds that it's a valuable family heirloom. But after they spend the night [[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow "casting spells"]], Willow turns up at her dorm the following morning holding the crystal, implying that she accepted it as a love token.

** In ''Sorcerer's Stone'', Hagrid buys Harry an owl, after Harry objects that he doesn't have to, and Hagrid gruffly replies that he knows he doesn't have to.

* In ''https://web.archive.org/web/20130104022258/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/matthew.adams1/personal/further.htm Further Invol(e)vement]]'', one of the things that make traumatized child Haran realize her adoptive parents truly love her is their gift of pet voles.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter Franz Xaver Winterhalter]] did a portrait of the Duke of Wellington, Queen Victoria, Prince Alfred, and Prince Arthur (later King Edward). He had the Duke presenting a box to make it dramatic, and it was a wide spread story that there actually was such a box, owing to him on his coming of age. The prince even asked for it, and was told by the queen that it was just a piece of fancy.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeeMovie'' to sneak Barry past security, he pretends to be a broach on Vanessa's shirt. The guard compliments her on it, to which she says this trope word-for-word after a thanks.

* ''Manga/SPYXFamily'': Anya received a very large penguin doll from Loid after a trip to the aquarium. After her dog Bond tears it up [[JealousPet due to jealousy]] and Loid offers to buy a new one, she rejects it as it was a gift from him. He later repairs it for her.

* {{Excalibur}} is sometimes said to be a gift from the Lady of the Lake to Myth/KingArthur.

* ''Manga/SPYXFamily'': Anya recived a very large penguin doll from Loid after a trip to the aquarium. After her dog Bond tears it up [[JealousPet due to jealousy]] and Loid offers to buy a new one, she rejects it as it was a gift from him. He later repairs it for her.

* VideoGame/ProfessorLayton's NiceHat is a gift from his girlfriend.