Archetypes

Literary Devices

Character Archetypes

Carl Jung first identify archetypes as the shared ancient patterns that find their way in our dreams and stories. They are the characters that everyone knows and recognizes regardless of sex, religion, culture or any other differences that humans may have. They are the characters in myths, legends, folktales, fables, and video games.

 Chrisopher Volger builds on the work of **Joseph Campbell** in his book //The Writer's Journey// when he offers eight archetypes, or types of characters, that appear in works of fiction: **Hero, Mentor, Threshold Guardian, Herald, Shape Shifter, Shadow, Ally, and Trickster**. Although some of these characters may sound somewhat strange, you have met them before under different names— **Hero/Protagonist, Ally/Sidekick, Shadow/Antagonist.** Each of these characters acts according to his or her type, presenting one side of the argument while propelling the story forward towards its ultimate conclusion.

The Hero
In every story there is a major character with whom the reader will normally associate most strongly and who is the key person around which the story is told. Although this person is often a hero in some sense, they may also take another form, such as a victim or a seeker after some treasure or knowledge. Or maybe they are all of these.

The Helper
The Hero is supported in his or her quest by a Helper, often a wise old man or magician, who appears at critical moments to provide support. Thus Obi Wan Kenobi appears to help Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, even after Kenobi's death. The Helper may also be found in a support role, such as Sherlock Holmes' Dr. Watson or Don Quixote's Sancho Panza. The contrast between the limitations of this person and the hero may provide a further elucidation of the hero's defining characteristics such as intelligence, determination, courage, etc. Other helpers appear along the way as friends or random people who act pro-socially to support the Hero.

The Villain
The sharpest contrast against the hero is the villain, who struggles directly against the hero. This is the clearly bad-guy person such as Darth Vader in Star Wars or Professor Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes. The Villain typically is morally bad, highlighting the goodness of the Hero. The Villain may seek to prevent the Hero from achieving the goal or may quest after the same artifact. The Villain may also be a tempter, such as when Darth Vader tries to seduce Luke Skywalker over to the 'dark side'.

The False Hero
A variant on the villain and a potential complication within the plot is the False Hero, who appears to act heroically and may even be initially mistaken for the real Hero. The False Hero will try to steal the Hero's thunder, grabbing the credit and perhaps trying to marry the princess instead. The False Hero is thus an usurper, a thief perhaps of the worst kind, who plays on people's good nature to boldly steal in broad daylight.The False Hero may also gain the respect or other control of the Princess's Father, thus frustrating the Hero's ability to gain the hand of the Princess.

The Donor
The Donor is a person who gives the Hero something special, such as a magical weapon or some particular wisdom. They may typically be Gods, Oracles or Wise Persons, although they may also be as simple as gatekeepers. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">This role may be combined with that of a Helper. The Donor may also be capricious and not easily swayed and may not give up their gift without setting the Hero another task, from a simple riddle to a whole other quest.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Dispatcher
<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">An early role in the story is that of the Dispatcher who sends the Hero on the mission. This may be a family member such as a mother or father. It can also be the Princess's Father, who gives the Hero a set of quests to be completed before he gains the hand of the Princess. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Dispatcher may also be combined with another role, for example the False Hero who then trails along behind (perhaps disguised as a Helper).

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Princess
<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Princess may take two forms. First, she may be the object which is deliberately sought by the Hero, perhaps finding where the Villain has taken her. Secondly, she may be the reward, such that after completing some other mission, he gains her affections or hand in marriage. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Princess may be seen very little in the story, perhaps appearing only at the end, or may be an integral character, for example where she accompanies the Hero on his mission, where he may win her heart by the courage and determination of his actions. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Princess may be wooed by many, in particular by the False Hero. When we see the Princess being won by the False Hero we may rail and rant in frustration as we see her falling unwittingly into her clutches.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Princess's Father
<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">Finally, there is the Princess's Father, who constrains the Princess or who may Dispatch the Hero on his mission to save the Princess. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">The Princess's Father is a key figure for the Hero to persuade, as the Father is almost always protective of his daughter. The Father may also be in competition in some way with the Hero for the Princess's affections and a triangle may form.


 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: center;">What is an archetype? **
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">An Ideal: The perfect example, original pattern or model
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Cross Cultural: A concept that pops up worldwide; universally present
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">A Prototype: Something on which others are copied
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Ancient: Inherited from our ancestors and in our psyches
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">The Overall Truth: Beyond law or opinion; What IS
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">The Essence of what makes us human
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">A Portal: Connection to the Universal Consciousness

**<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">Examples of Archetypes **
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Ideals of the Human Journey: Gods/Goddesses, maidens/ mother/ crone
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Creative & Spiritual Energy Figures: Creators of Earth and Life
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Mythical beings: Dragons, Phoenix, Mermaids, Silkies
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Elementals which can take Human Form: Sun, Moon, Earth, Fire, Water, Earth
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Symbols that Connect Us: Star, Circle, Snake, Spiral, Thunderbolts

**<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">Where Can Archetypes Be Found? **
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Oral Folk Lore: Story telling, old wives tales
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Fairy Tales: Cinderella (the maiden), fairy godmother (the crone)
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Literature: Novels, Mythology, Philosophy, Psychology-particularly of Carl Jung
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px; text-align: left;">Advertising and Media: The ideal woman, the manly man, the seductress