More Character Archetypes

The Hero

• Traditionally the protagonist of a story• Often his past is a mystery• He is the champion, king, leader or savior of

many• Endures pain and sorrow that all lead to a

greater good

Mentor

• Serve as a teacher or counselor to the initiate or future hero

• Role Model• Sometimes a Father or Mother figure

The Initiates

• Young heroes who must endure training• Must complete some type of quest• They are innocent and often wear white

Young man from the Provinces

• A hero is spirited away as a young man and raised by strangers

• Later returns home where he is a stranger who looks to find a solution to problems

Hunting group of companions

• Loyal to the hero• Group willing to face dangers in order to be

together

Earthmother

• Symbolic of abundance, fertility, and knowledge

• Offers spiritual and emotional advice or nourishment to those she meetsIn

Temptress

• Sensuous with beauty• The hero is physically attracted to her but

she will ultimately bring about his downfall

The Unfaithful Wife

• Woman, married to a man she sees dull• Attracted to a more interesting or handsome

man• Commits an act of InfidelityHelen

Damsel in Distress

• Vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero

• She is often used as bait to trap the hero

Star-Crossed Lovers

• These two characters are engaged in a love affair

• Fated to end tragically• Society, family, or friends do not approve of

the relationship

Loyal Retainers

• Somewhat heroic• Similar to a servant with hero-like qualities• Duty: Protect the Hero

The Outcast

• Banished by society or a social group• Destined to become a wanderer• Moves from place to place

The Friendly Beast

• Shows characteristics of the hero• Finds villains threatening and may attempt to

warn the hero• Loyal only to the hero & the hero’s

companions

Evil figure w/ ultimately good heart

• A redeemable devil• Saved by the love or faith of a hero• May have started out good, then through a

fall becomes evil, but returns to good in the end

• Creature of a Nightmare• A monster usually summoned from the

deepest, darkest parts of the mind• Threatens the life of the hero• Often a perverse or desecrated form of

human

The Scapegoat

• Human or animal• Public death is a sin of the community• Death makes him a more powerful force

than when he lived

Devil Figure

• Evil incarnate• Offers worldly goods• Will tempt, cheat, steal, lie, and destroy

anyone or anything he comes into contact with

The Friend archetypes

• are those characters who are generally supportive,

• but may (for good or bad reasons) do things to hinder the Hero.

Magi

• An advisor much wiser and more experienced than the Hero,

• may be hard to win over as a potential source of information or help.

• may mislead or manipulate the Hero as a form of "teaching."

Best Friend

• The Hero's confidant, • always ready to lend a hand –• may hold the Hero back out of fear for his

safety or fear for the loss of their close friendship.

Lover

• A "secure base" and a shoulder to cry on, • the character the Hero should be closest to by

the end of the story. • Need not be a mate per se; may be a child or a

pet.

The Rival archetypes

• characters who mostly hinder the Hero, without necessarily meaning him ill;

• a Rival is not a Villain, • may be a form of Antagonist.

Joker

• Uses verbal humor and practical jokes to keep everything on a comedic rather than dramatic level,

• may prevent people from getting down to discussing important issues.

• Craves attention and may lie or mislead others for the fun of it.

Jester

• Well-intentioned but clumsy, or otherwise capable of causing physical havoc without meaning to ("What does this button do?").

• Most times the Hero can't even bring himself to scold the character.

Nemesis

• Consciously tries to mess things up for the Hero –

• true rivalry here • when things really get bad might even lend a

hand to get things back to normal. • Would not enjoy life nearly as much if the

Hero weren't around to spar with.

Investigator

• Asks questions, demands details, • generally slows things down and saps the

Hero's patience. • Has little understanding of "acceptable risk" • doesn't want the Hero to make decisions

based on limited data, even in a time crunch.

Pessimist

• Points out everything wrong with the Hero's plan, and everything that could possibly go wrong, completely undermining the Hero's confidence.

• Doesn't believe anything will ever work, so never gives anything a try.

• Is a natural Devil's Advocate.

Psychic

• At her best, uses predictions to guide the Hero (thus almost a type of Magi);

• usually, however, she withholds information and masks the truth,

• may seek to be acknowledged for her unique powers.

• Needn't be a real psychic; can be, for example, a psychologist or behavioral analyst who can predict what people are going to do next.