What Is an Archetype? Definition and Examples

Take into consideration characters. Not particular characters like Katniss Everdeen or Atticus Finch. Take into consideration the sorts of characters they’re and the roles they play. You would possibly describe Katniss Everdeen as a hero or a selected one. As a result of she’s considered one of many characters who may be described this fashion, you might say she matches an archetype.

What’s an archetype in literature?

An archetype in literature is a logo, sample, plot, or character template that seems in a number of tales from throughout cultures. They’re recognizable as a result of they’re acquainted and sometimes signify our collective experiences and perceptions.

An archetype, pronounced ARK-uh-type, is a narrative aspect that will get reused repeatedly in numerous types of storytelling, together with folklore, books, and flicks. This idea additionally applies to nonfiction narratives, reminiscent of historic accounts and information tales.

Archetypes present a shorthand for characters, settings, and plot parts. For instance, a plot archetype is perhaps the story of a long-lost love. A personality archetype often is the smart, solitary sage who advises a narrative’s protagonist.

Psychiatrist Carl Jung coined the time period archetype in his 1919 essay “Intuition and the Unconscious.” He used the time period to seek advice from ideas that each one individuals appear aware of, dubbing them the “collective unconscious.”

Later, literary critic Northrop Frye performed an integral position in making use of the time period and idea to literature. However his utility is descriptive, not prescriptive—the usage of archetypes in literature dates again 1000’s of years, with many historical character and plotline varieties nonetheless showing in works right this moment.

Sorts of archetypes

There are many totally different sorts of archetypes in writing. See when you acknowledge any of the next.

Character archetypes

Hero

The hero archetype is a personality who heeds a name to take motion and defend others. Heroes typically have virtuous qualities, like kindness, compassion, and a way of responsibility.

Antihero

The antihero archetype is much like the hero in that they defend others, however not like the hero, the antihero typically doesn’t possess virtuous qualities. As an alternative, an antihero could also be a reluctant protector or an antagonistic character who in the end defeats evil.

Trickster

The trickster archetype is a personality that subverts expectations and breaks social guidelines. They could be a humorous character, however this isn’t a requirement. Trickster characters typically voice profound insights within the guise of jokes.

Harmless

The harmless is a personality, usually a younger one, who’s naive and has solely pure motivations. Typically, the hero is tasked with rescuing or defending the harmless.

To study extra about two key elements of writing well-rounded characters, learn our articles on oblique characterization and direct characterization.

Situational archetypes

Misplaced love

A misplaced love plot is a narrative a few protagonist trying to find “the one who received away,” a love curiosity or different relationship from their previous. They could or won’t discover the misplaced love. In tales with this plot, the archetype is primarily about how this expertise adjustments and shapes the protagonist.

Rags to riches

Tales that match this archetype are about protagonists who come from humble backgrounds and in some way discover themselves rich and profitable. In some tales, they continue to be rich, and in others, they return to their humble lives by the tip.

The voyage

The voyage is a plot archetype that includes the protagonist occurring a visit that takes them removed from house, exposing them to new individuals and experiences. The protagonist overcomes the story’s battle via this journey and the journey again.

Symbolic archetypes

Gentle

Amongst archetypes in literature, gentle is usually symbolic of goodness. When gentle is used because the archetype for “good,” darkness is usually the archetype that communicates “dangerous.”

Darkness

In distinction to gentle, darkness is a symbolic archetype of evil. It could take the type of a shadow or seem in references to nighttime and darkness.

Bushes

Bushes are sometimes symbolic of life. One well-known tree archetype is the tree of life. It could talk concepts of immortality, life after loss of life, or nature.

Water

Much like bushes, water can symbolize life. In distinction to bushes, which are likely to symbolize life and longevity, water can typically symbolize help, life drive, and emotion.

Archetypes vs. associated phrases

How is an archetype totally different from a trope, cliché, or inventory character?

Archetype vs. inventory character

Consider an archetype as a blueprint for crafting nuanced characters, plots, and symbols. It’s the place to begin, slightly than the endpoint, for story parts. A inventory character, in distinction, is a flat character that doesn’t transcend this fundamental blueprint.

A inventory character can be an archetype, however an archetype isn’t, by definition, a inventory character.

Archetype vs. trope

In fiction, tropes are acquainted motifs, like a villain explaining their evil plan to the hero or a easy misunderstanding creating sufficient drama to gasoline a complete story. Tropes can exist alongside archetypes, however whereas an archetype is a template for a narrative aspect, a trope is a plot level discovered throughout tales. The phrase trope can even seek advice from the figurative language utilized in a piece of fiction, like describing a personality’s eyes as deep swimming pools.

Archetype vs cliché

A cliché is a flip of phrase that’s been overused to the purpose of shedding its affect. Just a few examples of clichés embody:

• It’s not over till it’s over.
• Rise and shine.
• A damaged clock is true twice a day.

Archetype examples

Antihero

• Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights
• Batman

The voyage

Rags to riches

Harmless

• Lenny from Of Mice and Males
• Phoebe Caulfield from Catcher within the Rye

Archetype FAQs

What are archetypes in literature?

Archetypes in literature are templates for characters, plots, and different story parts that may be present in tales from the world over.

What are some forms of archetypes?

Just a few forms of archetypes in writing embody character archetypes, plot archetypes, and symbolic archetypes.

How do archetypes differ from tropes?

Archetypes are totally different from tropes in that whereas archetypes are templates for story parts, tropes are predictable plot gadgets and cases of figurative language.

What are some well-known examples of archetypes?

Just a few well-known examples of archetypes in writing are:

• The voyage plot construction
• The hero archetype
• Gentle as symbolic of goodness
• Rags-to-riches plot construction