The hero on a journey may be the easiest archetype to recognize, but many more archetypes exist. The slides below describe just a few. As you read the descriptions, see if you can think of a fictional character that fits the model.
The Hero. In literature, the hero isn’t just someone who is brave or smart. A hero must face and overcome a great obstacle―often some kind of monster or villain. There are also several kinds of hero archetypes, such as ordinary people, heroes with special talents or abilities, and heroes who have serious flaws.
The Outlaw. If a character fits the outlaw archetype, he or she is a rebel, someone who chooses to break the rules. The outlaw may even live apart from the rest of society. Outlaw characters often look for new and different ways to do things because they’re not willing to rely on the way things have always been done.
The Sage. You might see the sage archetype in the same story with a hero. The sage is usually a mentor, teacher, or magician―someone who is wise, knowledgeable, and willing to help heroes on their quests. (The word sage also means wise, as in “sage advice.”)
The Jester. When a story includes a character who is very clever but also rather silly and fun, that character is probably a jester, also known as a trickster. Jesters may be especially fond of practical jokes―or just very spontaneous and funny. Some jesters want to feel smarter and quicker than everyone else, and this desire may drive their actions.
Archetypal characters (characters who fit archetypes) are very common in movies as well as written literature. Try matching each film character below with the archetype they represent.
What do three of these characters have in common, related to written literature?
