More Character Archetypes The Hero Traditionally the protagonist

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 meets. In

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 Infidelity. Helen

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.