ARCHETYPES
Archetypes are recurring
characters, settings, plot
patterns, and symbols that give
literature its unity. In other
words, they are the basic
patterns that occur repeatedly
in literature of all ages.
ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS
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Alter-ego
Helpful animal
Earth Mother
Wise Old Man
Temptress
Hero
Anti-Hero
Innocent
Scapegoat/Sacrificial
Victim
Trickster
Villain
Transgressor
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Destroyer
Handsome Prince
Helpless Princess
HERO: USUALLY PORTRAYED AS LARGER THAN LIFE, THE HERO
HAS OUTSTANDING QUALITIES AND ABILITIES AND UPHOLDS THE
VALUES OF HIS CULTURE OR SOCIETY
Harry Potter
Santiago
ANTI-HERO:
THIS CHARACTER DOES NOT UPHOLD THE VALUES OF IS
SOCIETY AS HE ATTEMPTS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOALS. WHEN THE MAIN
CHARACTER IS A BAD GUY, HE IS OFTEN AN ANTI-HERO. THE ANTI-HERO IS
NOT THE SAME AS THE VILLAIN.
The Englishman
ALTER-EGO OR DOUBLE: SPLIT PERSONALITIES OR
OPPOSITE TENDENCIES WITHIN A SINGLE CHARACTER. OR, A
“DUPLICATE” CHARACTER THAT DISPLAYS OPPOSITE TENDENCIES.
Severus Snape
The Crystal Merchant
INNOCENT:
A CHILD OR NAÏVE AND INEXPERIENCED MAN
OR WOMAN WHO IS THEN EXPOSED TO THE EVILS OF THE
WORLD.
THE CHARACTER USUALLY MOVES FROM INNOCENCE TO
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. OFTEN THE HERO OF THE
STORY, ESPECIALLY IF HE IS A CHILD AT THE START.
SCAPEGOAT OR SACRIFICIAL VICTIM: ONE WHO SUFFERS
OR IS BLAMED UNJUSTLY IN ORDER FOR OTHERS TO ESCAPE BLAME OR
PUNISHMENT. ALSO, OFTEN THE HERO. OR ONE WHO MAKES THE WAY FOR THE
HERO TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOALS.
Harry Potter
Santiago
TRICKSTER:
A CHARACTER WHO, THROUGH SUPERIOR WIT OR
CUNNING, CAN DECEIVE AND MANIPULATE THOSE WHO SEEMINGLY
HAVE GREATER STRENGTH OR AUTHORITY
Fortune Teller
Fred and George Weasley
Thief
VILLAIN: AN EVIL CHARACTER WHO ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE
HERO
Voldemort
DESTROYER:
DESTROYS JUST TO DESTROY; ENJOYS EVIL FOR
EVIL’S SAKE.
OTHER CHARACTERS OFTEN HAVE TROUBLE
UNDERSTANDING HIS/HER MOTIVATION.
Bellatrix LeStrange
TRANSGRESSOR:
PUSHES THE LIMITS OF HUMAN
KNOWLEDGE AND OFTEN ANGERS “THE GODS.” THIS TRANSGRESSION
OFTEN INVOLVES TECHNOLOGY.
Voldemort
The Alchemist
TEMPTRESS: A CHARACTER (IF THE HERO IS MALE,
USUALLY A WOMAN) WHO, THROUGH HER POWER, CAN MAKE A
STRONG MAN WEAK AND A WISE MAN FOOLISH.
SHE CAN BE AN
IMMORAL TEMPTRESS (DISTRACTS THE HERO) OR AMORAL
TEMPTRESS (MOTIVATING HIM TO ACCOMPLISH HIS QUEST).
Ginny Weasley
Fatima
SUPERNATURAL HELPER OR HELPFUL ANIMAL:
ANY ANIMAL/FORCE THAT USUALLY APPEARS WHEN THE HERO CANNOT SEE A
WAY OUT OF HIS DILEMMA. OFTEN A LONGTIME COMPANION TO THE HERO.
Dobby
Hawks
Kreacher
Scarab Beetle
EARTH MOTHER/WISE OLD MAN: ETERNAL PROVIDER
WHO PROTECTS, NOURISHES, SHELTERS, AND NOURISHES THE HERO ON
HIS QUEST. THIS CHARACTER OFTEN PLAYS A LARGE ROLE EARLY ON
AND REAPPEARS AT CRUCIAL TIMES OF NEED.
Albus Dumbledore
Melchizidek
HELPLESS PRINCESS: WOMAN (USUALLY BEAUTIFUL) IN NEED OF
A HERO TO SAVE HER FROM DEATH, EVIL ADVERSARIES, OR OTHER DANGER.
DAMSEL IN DISTRESS—THINK OLD DISNEY MOVIES.
THE
ARCHETYPAL SETTINGS
COUNTRYSIDE: THE INNOCENT HERO OFTEN BEGINS HIS
JOURNEY IS THIS SORT OF RURAL SETTING. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH
HEALING AND GOODNESS.
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The Burrow
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Santiago’s
Pastureland
CAVES, TUNNELS, POOLS OF WATER:
SYMBOLIZES DESCENT INTO THE UNCONSCIOUS OR THE INNER SELF.
THE HERO EXPERIENCES SELF DISCOVERY HERE.
The Pensieve
Where Godric Gryffindor’s Sword is
hidden
Voldemort’s Cave
THE ENCHANTED FOREST:
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Those who enter often
lose their direction or
rational outlook and
tap into their
collective unconscious.
The opposite of the
cultivated gardens,
which are carefully
planned and are
restricted to certain
vegetation.
OCEANS AND DESERTS: SYMBOLIZE SPIRITUAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISOLATION OR EXILE. INCLUDE ISLANDS AND SHIPS AT
SEA.
The Island in Voldemort’s
Cave
The Desert
GARDEN: ORDERED AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT THAT
IS USUALLY SAFE, HAPPY, AND NURTURING.
HEALTH HERE DURING QUEST.
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A HERO CAN REGAIN
The Oasis
MOUNTAINS AND PEAKS: SYMBOLS OF THE QUEST FOR
SPIRITUAL SELF AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND CONTACT WITH
THE SUPERNATURAL, AS PEAKS ARE CLOSE TO THE HEAVENS.
The Pyramids
RIVERS: SYMBOLIZE ON-FLOWING TIME OR LIFE, ETERNAL
CHANGE, DESTINY.
USED AS BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WORLDS, OFTEN
THOSE OF LIFE AND DEATH.
STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY
DEPARTURE: THE HERO IS SEPARATED FROM THE
KNOWN AND STEPS INTO THE UNKNOWN.
Harry Potter must leave
Hogwarts to search for Horcruxes
Santiago must sell his sheep
INITIATION: BY CROSSING THE THRESHOLD, THE HERO'S
WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER.
HE/SHE GOES ON A PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL JOURNEY THAT RESULTS IN NEW KNOWLEDGE OF
PURPOSE AND SELF.
Harry looks for Horcruxes
Santiago looks for treasure
RETURN: THROUGH THE HERO’S SACRIFICE OF
SELF, HE ARRIVES AT AN ENLIGHTENED STATE.
Harry Potter accepts his fate for
the good of the wizarding world
Santiago discovers the
meaning of true treasure