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WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPE? DEFINITION AND EXAMPLES

Lindsay Kramer
Updated on November 21, 2024Literary Devices

Think about characters. Not specific characters like Katniss Everdeen or Atticus
Finch. Think about the kinds of characters they are and the roles they play. You
might describe Katniss Everdeen as a hero or a chosen one. Because she’s one of
many characters who can be described this way, you could say she fits an
archetype.



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WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPE IN LITERATURE?

An archetype in literature is a symbol, pattern, plot, or character template
that appears in multiple stories from across cultures. They’re recognizable
because they’re familiar and often represent our collective experiences and
perceptions.

An archetype, pronounced ARK-uh-type, is a story element that gets reused
repeatedly in various forms of storytelling, including folklore, books, and
movies. This concept also applies to nonfiction narratives, such as historical
accounts and news stories.

Archetypes provide a shorthand for characters, settings, and plot elements. For
example, a plot archetype might be the story of a long-lost love. A character
archetype may be the wise, solitary sage who advises a story’s protagonist.

Psychiatrist Carl Jung coined the term archetype in his 1919 essay “Instinct and
the Unconscious.” He used the term to refer to concepts that all people seem
familiar with, dubbing them the “collective unconscious.”

Later, literary critic Northrop Frye played an integral role in applying the
term and concept to literature. But his application is descriptive, not
prescriptive—the use of archetypes in literature dates back thousands of years,
with many ancient character and plotline types still appearing in works today.


TYPES OF ARCHETYPES

There are lots of different kinds of archetypes in writing. See if you recognize
any of the following.


CHARACTER ARCHETYPES

HERO

The hero archetype is a character who heeds a call to take action and protect
others. Heroes generally have virtuous qualities, like kindness, compassion, and
a sense of duty.

ANTIHERO

The antihero archetype is similar to the hero in that they protect others, but
unlike the hero, the antihero often doesn’t possess virtuous qualities. Instead,
an antihero may be a reluctant protector or an antagonistic character who
ultimately defeats evil.

TRICKSTER

The trickster archetype is a character that subverts expectations and breaks
social rules. They may be a funny character, but this isn’t a requirement.
Trickster characters often voice profound insights in the guise of jokes.

INNOCENT

The innocent is a character, typically a young one, who is naive and has only
pure motivations. Often, the hero is tasked with rescuing or protecting the
innocent.

To learn more about two key parts of writing well-rounded characters, read our
articles on indirect characterization and direct characterization.


SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPES

LOST LOVE

A lost love plot is a story about a protagonist searching for “the one who got
away,” a love interest or other relationship from their past. They might or
might not find the lost love. In stories with this plot, the archetype is
primarily about how this experience changes and shapes the protagonist.

RAGS TO RICHES

Stories that fit this archetype are about protagonists who come from humble
backgrounds and somehow find themselves wealthy and successful. In some stories,
they remain wealthy, and in others, they return to their humble lives by the
end.

THE VOYAGE

The voyage is a plot archetype that involves the protagonist going on a trip
that takes them far from home, exposing them to new people and experiences. The
protagonist overcomes the story’s conflict through this journey and the trip
back.


SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPES

LIGHT

Among archetypes in literature, light is often symbolic of goodness. When light
is used as the archetype for “good,” darkness is often the archetype that
communicates “bad.”

DARKNESS

In contrast to light, darkness is a symbolic archetype of evil. It may take the
form of a shadow or appear in references to night and darkness.

TREES

Trees are often symbolic of life. One famous tree archetype is the tree of life.
It may communicate ideas of immortality, life after death, or nature.

WATER

Similar to trees, water can symbolize life. In contrast to trees, which tend to
symbolize life and longevity, water can often symbolize support, life force, and
emotion.


ARCHETYPES VS. RELATED TERMS

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


ARCHETYPE VS. STOCK CHARACTER

Think of an archetype as a blueprint for crafting nuanced characters, plots, and
symbols. It’s the starting point, rather than the endpoint, for story elements.
A stock character, in contrast, is a flat character that doesn’t go beyond this
basic blueprint.

A stock character can be an archetype, but an archetype isn’t, by definition, a
stock character.


ARCHETYPE VS. TROPE

In fiction, tropes are familiar motifs, like a villain explaining their evil
plan to the hero or a simple misunderstanding creating enough drama to fuel an
entire story. Tropes can exist alongside archetypes, but while an archetype is a
template for a story element, a trope is a plot point found across stories. The
word trope can also refer to the figurative language used in a work of fiction,
like describing a character’s eyes as deep pools.


ARCHETYPE VS CLICHÉ

A cliché is a turn of phrase that’s been overused to the point of losing its
impact. A few examples of clichés include:

 * It’s not over until it’s over.
 * Rise and shine.
 * A broken clock is right twice a day.


ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES


ANTIHERO

 * Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights
 * Batman


THE VOYAGE

 * Alice in Wonderland


RAGS TO RICHES

 * Cinderella
 * Oliver Twist


INNOCENT

 * Lenny from Of Mice and Men
 * Phoebe Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye


ARCHETYPE FAQS


WHAT ARE ARCHETYPES IN LITERATURE?

Archetypes in literature are templates for characters, plots, and other story
elements that can be found in stories from across the world.


WHAT ARE SOME TYPES OF ARCHETYPES?

A few types of archetypes in writing include character archetypes, plot
archetypes, and symbolic archetypes.


HOW DO ARCHETYPES DIFFER FROM TROPES?

Archetypes are different from tropes in that while archetypes are templates for
story elements, tropes are predictable plot devices and instances of figurative
language.


WHAT ARE SOME WELL-KNOWN EXAMPLES OF ARCHETYPES?

A few well-known examples of archetypes in writing are:

 * The voyage plot structure
 * The hero archetype
 * Light as symbolic of goodness
 * Rags-to-riches plot structure


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