An archetype is a literary device in which a character is created based on a set of qualities or traits that are specific and identifiable for readers. Though heroes may appear in different literary forms across time and culture, their characterization tends to be universal thus making them archetypal characters.
What are the 12 common archetypes?
The 12 archetypes
- Hero. The Hero sees life as a constant battle. ...
- Magician. Magicians can exploit the power of the universe to influence people and achieve their goals. ...
- Sage. The Sage is in a continuous journey to discover the “truth”. ...
- Governor. ...
- Innocent. ...
- Realist. ...
- Caregiver. ...
- Lover. ...
- Jester. ...
- Rebel. ...
What are types of archetype?
Types of archetypes
- Main archetypes. The main archetypes are a series of unconscious representations that seem to play a major role in the development of the human psyche.
- Anim. Ánima means in Latin soul and according to the theory of the collective unconscious of Carl Jung defines the archetypal images of the eternal feminine in the unconscious ...
- Aimimus. ...
- Shadow. ...
- Person. ...
What are the types of character in literature?
Types of characters in literature
- The main character (Protagonist)
- Character opposing the main character (Antagonist)
- Static or flat character
- Changing or dynamic character
- Confidante character
- Foil character
- Stock character
- Round character
- Evil character or villain
What are examples of archetype?
What are some examples of archetypes?
- The Lover.
- The Hero.
- The Magician.
- The Outlaw.
- The Explorer.
- The Sage.
- The Innocent.
- The Creator.
What is an example of an archetypal character?
A character archetype in novel terms is a type of character who represents a universal pattern, and therefore appeals to our human 'collective unconscious' . For example, 'hero' is the most fundamental character archetype, which directly corresponds to us each being the hero (or protagonist) of our own life story.
What is a archetypal in literature?
archetype, (from Greek archetypos, “original pattern”), in literary criticism, a primordial image, character, or pattern of circumstances that recurs throughout literature and thought consistently enough to be considered a universal concept or situation.
How do you identify an archetype in literature?
There are two sets of archetypes in literature: Character and Situation. Character archetypes are precisely what the term describes. Characters in a story perform various specific functions throughout the plot, and these functions are what determines which archetype they fit into.
What are the 4 archetypes in literature?
Here's a list of some of the most commonly found archetypes in literature.The Hero. Summary: The hero is always the protagonist (though the protagonist is not always a hero). ... The Mentor. Summary: The mentor is a common archetype in literature. ... The Everyman. ... The Innocent. ... The Villain.
What are the 12 archetypes in literature?
Carl Jung created 12 archetypes:Ruler.Creator or Artist.Sage.Innocent.Explorer.Rebel.Hero.Magician or Wizard.More items...•
What are the 12 most common archetypes?
There are twelve brand archetypes: The Innocent, Everyman, Hero, Outlaw, Explorer, Creator, Ruler, Magician, Lover, Caregiver, Jester, and Sage.
What is the best definition of an archetype?
noun. the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype. (in Jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.
What are the 3 main archetypes?
Archetypes are in many ways enduring, but their visual representation evolves over time. Consider three of the most common archetypes: the Caregiver, the Creator and the Explorer.
How is Harry Potter a hero archetype?
Starting from Harry Potter life is a hero to the search, task, journey, initiation, ritual, The falls, death and rebirth, the battle between good and evil and the unhealable wound. Strength and virtue enabled him to rid the world of evil magic, thus strengthening the status of archetypal hero.
What are the 5 character archetypes?
Analysis of five primary character archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, Trickster.
What are the 7 archetypal characters in a hero's journey?
The ArchetypesHero. A hero willingly sacrifices their needs for others. ... Mentor. A teacher or trainer who aids the hero by teaching and protecting them. ... Threshold Guardian. A character who serves to keep the unworthy from entering. ... Herald. ... Shadow. ... Trickster. ... Shapeshifter.
What are common archetypes?
Here are the 12 common character archetypes, as well as examples of archetype in famous works of literature and film.The Lover.The Hero.The Magician.The Outlaw.The Explorer.The Sage.The Innocent.The Creator.More items...•
What is an archetype?
In literature, an archetype (AHR-kih-typuh) is a character, situation, emotion, symbol, or event that is recurrent throughout different stories from many cultures. Because of the frequency with which these are seen, they’re considered universal symbols.
What is an archetype in psychology?
According to Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, archetypes are universal ideas or images that arise from humans’ “collective unconscious” and are indicative of a deeper realm of myths, yearnings, beliefs, and dreams that help illuminate each individual’s psyche.
What is the creature of nightmare?
The creature of nightmare is a monster the protagonist—generally the hero, a character that is explained below—must face. Examples of this archetype include Grendel in Beowulf and Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. The femme fatale or seductress is a provocative woman who brings danger and catastrophe to the hero.
What is the role of villains in the world?
The villain’s role is to thwart and oppose the hero and often commit wider acts of destruction that threaten the world. Examples include Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello, James Moriarty in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series, and the White Witch in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
What are some examples of heroes?
They are often raised by a guardian and must leave their native land to enter an unfamiliar and challenging world. Beowulf, Harry Potter, and Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars movies are examples of heroes.
What are the similarities between archetypes, stock characters, clichés, and stereotypes?
There are some similarities between archetypes, stock characters, clichés, and stereotypes, but the terms are not interchangeable. Clichés are descriptions, events, details, or ideas that occur so frequently in literature and pop culture that they become predictable and lack originality.
Where did the word "archetype" come from?
The word archetype first appeared in English in the 1540s and indicated a “model, first form, original pattern from which copies are made.”. This word derives from the Latin archetypum, from the Greek arkhetypon, meaning “pattern, model, figure on a seal.”.
What are character archetypes?
A character archetype is a recurring type of character that represents something universal in our human experience. Archetypes create an immediate sense of familiarity even in an unfamiliar story because they’re types of people that we’ve met time and time again.
Character archetypes vs. story archetypes
In literature you’ll hear about two different kinds of archetypes: character archetypes and story archetypes. Both of these literary devices represent universal patterns that we can recognize in almost all stories across cultures throughout history.
Why use character archetypes in writing?
Even though the character archetypes we’re going to show you are all very different, they have one very important thing in common: each of them represents a small piece of ourselves—of what it is to be human. Everyone has the capacity to be a hero, a mentor, a lover, even a villain.
The 16 classic character archetypes
Unlike stereotypes, which are extremely limited in their scope, character archetypes offer you a base structure from which you can begin building the people of your story world. Here are the 16 character archetypes that you can use in your writing.
How to use character archetypes in your story
As you can see, character archetypes represent a range of types of people from all across literature. Don’t feel like you need to limit the characters in your story to just one of these archetypes—sometimes characters will fill more than one role in a story, or their role will change.
Character archetypes are an easy way to structure your story
Generations of writers and storytellers have perfected these character archetypes in literature because they’ve recognized that they’re facets of each and every one of us.
What is an archetype in literature?
Well, in literature, an archetype is a common character, action, or situation that represents a universal pattern of human nature. You might have also heard of it referred to as a universal symbol. These archetypes can be found in tarot cards, movies, pop culture and of course literary works.
What are some examples of hero archetypes?
Examples of hero archetypes in literature include: Beowulf (authorship unknown) d’Artagnan in Alexandre Dumas’s The Three Musketeers. Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
What are some examples of villains?
There are numerous examples of the villain archetypes in literature, including: the Joker from the Batman series. Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book stories. Iago from William Shakespeare’s Othello. Lord Voldemort from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Sauron in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
What is the scapegoat in a story?
Exactly as the name implies, the literary scapegoat is the character in a work who takes the blame for anything that goes wrong, the focus of all blame in the story.
What is the villain in a story?
The villain often provides the reason or motivation for the hero’s actions, acting as the antagonist in the work, with the two pitted against each other in a battle of wits, knowledge and/or physical strength until one or the other comes out on top.
What are some examples of mother characters?
Examples of mother character archetypes include: Gladriel from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Lucy and Madame Defarge from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. Ma Joad in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Gertrude in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
What is the role of a mentor in a literary work?
Through their provision of wise advice and tutoring to the main character in a literary work the mentor’s main function is to protect, nurture and ensure the success of the story’s protagonist.
Why are character archetypes important?
Character archetypes are great building blocks for your stories. You don’t want to make your characters too one dimensional, but understanding why people seem to gravitate to a particular set of character traits will help you analyze human behavior. Which leads to crafting better characters in your scripts.
What is an archetype?
An archetype is a consistent and typical version of a particular thing. It can be a human, an object, or a particular set of behaviors, but the point is that it fits into a time-tested mold that embodies a pure form. A character archetype is the core traits, values, and decision making patterns of a particular type of person.
What is the character archetype of the warrior?
Our next character archetype is The Warrior. Commonly, this character archetype is courageous, self-sacrificing, a person of honor. They’re strong willed, involved, and have a code. But they can often be stubborn and obsessive — just like Sarah Connor in The Terminator franchise.
What are some examples of character archetypes?
Character Archetype Examples • Michael Scott. Michael could be considered a leader, or perhaps a wildcard. Most characters will show signs of multiple character archetypes, but there is still a way to make a sound determination. The simplest way is through the process of elimination.
Can you use an archetype in a script?
You’ve now defined yourself by a character archetype. When writing your own scripts, you may have a desire to use a character archetype for your hero, or for your villain. Other times you may want to build an ensemble with many archetypes. Here is a scene below that feature multiple character archetypes:
Can you have incompatible archetypes on the same team?
Allies. Enemies. Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have incompatible archetypes on the same team or vice versa, because that will often lead to logical conflict. While this is great for storytelling, certain personality types have a much easier time connecting with others.
Is it easier to write a compelling character?
Writing a compelling character is easier said than done. However, it’s helpful to consider tried-and-true character archetypes to ensure every character behaves in a way that is unique, consistent, and believable. In this post, we’ll identify the various character archetypes that you can use to enhance your own characters.
What is an archetypal character?
Creating an Archetypal Character. Characters can be a combination of flat, round, static, and dynamic. A flat character is a one-dimensional character who isn’t fully developed. A round character is a multi-dimensional character with different (and sometimes contradictory) features, just like real humans.
What is an archetype in art?
An archetype is defined as “a very typical example of a certain person or thing” or “a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology.”. Back in the early 20th century, a psychiatrist named Carl Jung developed all of these “Jungian” archetypes that seemed to be in humanity’s collective unconscious.
What are the archetypal events?
An archetypal event might be birth, death, separation (from home), initiation, marriage, or the union of opposites. Archetypal characters include the mother, father, child, god, wise old man/woman, trickster, and of course, the hero. Archetypal motifs are the apocalypse, the deluge, or the creation.
How to make a character round?
To make a character round, introduce different elements of characterization including, but not limited to, thoughts, actions, physical description, reactions, and dialogue. This will help readers understand the ins and outs of that archetypal character.
What is dynamic character?
A dynamic character is a character who undergoes a major change (s) after they learn or experience something that alters them in a significant way. Any characters who serve as filler or don’t have a major role in the plot (like a supporting character) are always flat and static.
What is a hero in the movie?
The Hero is a character who seeks to prove their worth through courageous and heroic acts. They might be arrogant and fear being seen as weak or scared. They want to make the world a better place and never give up, regardless of the odds. They are a warrior, rescuer, soldier, and team player.
What is the creator?
The Creator. The Creator is some kind of creative and imaginative character. They can be an artist, inventor, writer, or musician, and are generally innovative and visionary. They seek to express themselves, their visions, and contribute to the overall culture through valuable creations.
What are the characteristics of an archetype?
Here are the 12 common character archetypes, as well as examples of archetype in famous works of literature and film. 1. The Lover. The romantic lead who’s guided by the heart. Strengths: humanism, passion, conviction. Weaknesses: naivete, irrationality.
Why are archetypes important in the arts?
In the arts, an archetype creates an immediate sense of familiarity, allowing an audience member to relate to an event or character without having to necessarily ponder why they relate. Thanks to our instincts and life experiences, we’re able to recognize archetypes without any need for explanation.
What are the heroes and villains of today's books and movies based on?
The heroes and villains of today’s books and films may be based on the same heroic and villainous archetypes found in fairy tales, the novels of Charles Dickens, the poetry of John Milton, and the theater of the ancient Greeks. Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling. Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling.
What is a stock character?
A stock character is somewhere between an archetype and a stereotype: a character who intentionally fits a narrow, predictable description.
Is "stock characters" a synonym for "archetypes"?
Although there is overlap among archetypes, stereotypes, stock characters, and clichés, the words are not synonyms. As a general rule, common archetypes and stock characters provide guidelines for characterization, while stereotypes and clichés are negative labels, used to describe bad writing or shallow thinking.
What is the archetypal character?
Here are some commonly used archetypal characters: Hero: The hero is defined as the character, usually the protagonist, who displays such positive characteristics as honesty and innate goodness. The hero often must overcome evil in order to bring order back to society.
What is an archetype in literature?
Archetype definition: An archetype is a setting, character, image, or story pattern that is universally understood.
Why are archetypes important?
When literature includes various archetypes, it allows for a universal understanding of the story and for people of various cultures to relate to the archetypal figures by the author.
What is the difference between a villain and a lover?
Villain: The villain is a type of antagonist that is cruel or evil and goes to great extents to continue the injustice that the hero is fighting against in the story. Example: The Joker can be seen as a villain in the DC Comic Batman. Lover: The lover is an archetype that goes to great lengths to experience love.
What is an example of an archetype?
Example of Archetype. The evil stepmother is an archetype that is presented across various cultures. This archetype is often found in fairy tales such as Cinderella that has versions in many different cultures.
Who is the main character in The Trojan War?
The main character, Odysseus, is representative of the hero archetype. He is on a long journey home from The Trojan War. Through this journey home, Odysseus receives the aid of many mentors who help him. The most prominent mentor he receives aid from is the goddess Athena.
Who is the mentor in Lion King?
Example: Simba can be seen as the hero in Disney’s The Lion King. Mentor: The mentor is the character who during the hero’s journey against evil provides guidance and aid to the hero. Example: Phil can be seen as the mentor to Hercules in Disney’s Hercules.
What is literary archetype?
A literary archetype is a literary device used by writers when they are creating characters or plots whereby they use a set of identifiable qualities or traits which are familiar and identifiable to the readers in order to help them relate to the content of the work.
Which literary archetype features heavily in the novel?
Another literary archetype which features heavily in the novel is that of the innocent – in this instance Elizabeth’s sister, the practically perfect in every way Jane. Naive and believing the best of everyone at all times, Jane seemingly never entirely grows up.
What did Jung believe about archetypes?
Jung believed that archetypes are part of humanity’s collective unconscious or memory of humanity’s universal experiences. As such, he believed that all humans would therefore recognise these archetypes and being able to tap into them could reveal something to each person about their own nature.
The Hero Archetypes in Literature
The Mother Figure Archetype in Literature
- Summary:The mentor is a common archetype in literature. The mentor is usually old, and this person often has some kind of magical abilities or a much greater breadth of knowledge than others possess. Mentors help heroes along their journeys, usually by teaching them how to help themselves (though mentors sometimes directly intervene in extreme situ...
The Innocent Youth Archetype in Literature
The Mentor Archetype in Literature
The Doppelganger Archetype in Literature
The Scapegoat Archetype in Literature
The Villain Archetype in Literature