AP Literature Archetypes

Hero as Warrior

a near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies (hero archetype)

Hero as Lover

a pure love motivate hero to complete his quest (hero archetype)

Hero as Scapegoat

hero suffers for the sake of others (hero archetype)

Transcendent Hero

the hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall, but not without achieving some kind of transforming realization or wisdom (hero archetype)

Romantic/Gothic Hero

hero/lover with a decidedly dark side (hero archetype)

Proto-Feminist Hero

female heroes (hero archetype)

Apocalyptic Hero

hero who faces the possible destruction of society (hero archetype)

Anti-Hero

a non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently humorous (hero archetype)

Defiant Anti-hero

opposer of society’s definition of heroism and goodness (hero archetype)

Unbalanced Hero

the protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional problems (hero archetype)

The Other (The Denied Hero)

the protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible (hero archetype)

The Superheroic

exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or supernatural origins. in some sense, the superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is nonetheless needed by society (hero archetype)

Tyrant

the bullying despot, he wants power at any price. ruthlessly conquers all he surveys, crushing enemies beneath his feet (villain archetype)

Bastard

dispossessed son, he burns with resentment. he can’t have what he wants, so he lashes out to hurt those around him (villain archetype)

Devil

charming fiend, giving people what he thinks they deserve. charism allows him to lure his victims to their own destruction (villain archetype)

Traitor

double agent that betrays those who trust him most despite supportive smiles and sympathetic ears (villain archetype)

Outcast

lonely outsider, he wants desperately to belong; tortured and unforgiving, he has been set off from others, and usually for good cause (villain archetype)

Evil Genius

malevolent mastermind, he loves to show off his superior intelligence. intellectual inferiors are contemptible to him and he uses elaborate puzzles and experiments (villain archetype)

Sadist

the savage predator, he enjoys cruelty for the sake of it. violence and psychological brutality are games to this man (villain archetype)

Terrorist

the dark knight, he serves a warped code of honor. self-righteous, he believes in his own virtue, and judges all around him by a strict set of laws. the ends will always justify his nefarious means (villain archetype)

Bitch

abusive autocrat, she lies, cheats, and steals her way to the top. her climb to success has left many a heel mark on the backs of others (villain archetype)

Black Widow

the beguiling siren, she lures victims into her web, going after anyone who has something she wants. but she does her best to make the victim want to be deceived through seduction (villain archetype)

Backstabber

two-faced friend, she delights in duping the unsuspecting. her sympathetic smiles enable her to learn her victims’ secrets (villain archetype)

Lunatic

unbalanced madwoman, she draws others into her crazy environment. the drum to which she marches misses many beats, but, to her, its the rest of the world that is out of step (villain archetype)

Parasite

poisonous vine, she collaborates for her own comfort, going along with any atrocity as long as her own security is assured. sees herself as victim who had no choice, and blames others for her crimes (villain archetype)

Schemer

lethal plotter, she devises the ruin of others. like a cat with a mouse, she plays with lives. nothing pleases her more than elaborate plans and intricate schemes (villain archetype)

Fanatic

uncompromising extremist, she does no wrong in the name of good. she justifies her action by her intent, and merely shrugs her shoulders at collateral damage (villain archetype)

Matriarch

motherly oppressor, she smothers her loved ones. she knows what’s best and will do all in her power to control the lives of those who surround her, all for their own good (villain archetype)

Boss

the real go-getter, she climbs the ladder of success. this is a “take charge” female, who accepts nothing but respect and reaching her goal is the most important thing to her (heroine archetype)

Seductress

an enchantress, she gets her way. this is a lady who is long accustomed to sizing up everyone in a room the minute she enters. mysterious and manipulative (heroine archetype)

Spunky Kid

gutsy and true, she is loyal to the end. she is a favorite of many writers as she’s the girl with moxie. not looking to be top of the heap, she just wants to be in her own niche (heroine archetype)

Free Spirit

eternal optimist, she dances to unheard tones. playful and fun-loving, she travels through life joyfully, acting on whims and following her heart, not her head (heroine archetype)

Waif

distressed damsel, she bends with the wind. she’s the original damsel in distress; her child-like innocence evokes a protective urge (heroine archetype)

Librarian

controlled and clever, she holds back. shes prim and proper, but underneath that is a passionate woman that represses her thoughts (heroine archetype)

Crusader

a dedicated fighter, she meets her commitments. she is no a mission and she marches right over anyone in her way (heroine archetype)

Nurturer

serene and capable, she nourishes the spirit, and takes care of everyone (heroine archetype)

The Quest

what the hero must accomplish in order to bring fertility back to wasteland to restore peace and order (situational archetype)

The Task

the nearly superhuman feat the hero must perform in order to accomplish his quest (situational archetype)

The Journey

sends the hero in search of some truth that will help save his kingdom (situational archetype)

The Initiation

the adolescent comes into his maturity with new awareness and problems (situational archetype)

The Ritual

actual ceremonies the Initiate experiences that will mark his rite of passage into another state; a clear sign of the character’s role in his society (situational archetype)

The Fall

the descent from a higher to lower state of being usually as punishment for transgression, also involving loss of innocence (situational archetype)

Death and Rebirth

most common of all situational archetypes, this motif grows out of a parallel between the cycle of nature and the type of life. Thus morning and springtime represent birth or youth, while evening and winter suggest old age (situational archetype)

Battle between Good and Evil

a battle between two primal forces where mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds (situational archetype)

The Unhealable Wound

either a physical or psychological wound that cannot be fully healed, symbolizing a loss of innocence (situational archetype)

Light vs. Darkness

light usually suggests hope and renewal while darkness implies the unknown and despair (symbolic archetype)

Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity

some characters exhibit understanding of situations instinctively as opposed to those supposedly in charge (symbolic archetype)

Supernatural Intervention

spiritual beings intervene on the side of the hero or sometimes against him (symbolic archetype)

Fire and Ice

fire represents knowledge, light, and rebirth while ice represents ignorance, darkness, sterility, and death (symbolic archetype)

Nature vs. Mechanistic World

nature is good while technology is evil (symbolic archetype)

The Threshold

gateway to a new world which the hero must enter to change and grow (symbolic archetype)

The Underworld

a place of death or metaphorically an encounter of the dark side of the self, or also a form of facing a fear of death (symbolic archetype)

Haven vs. Wilderness

places of safety contrast sharply against a dangerous wilderness. heroes often sheltered for a time to regain health and resources (symbolic archetype)

Water vs. Desert

water appears as a birth symbol, as baptism symbolizes a spiritual birth, while the desert suggests the opposite (symbolic archetype)

Heaven vs. Hell

man has traditionally associated parts of the universe not accessible to him with the dwelling places of the primordial forces that govern his world (symbolic archetype)

The Crossroads

a place or time of decision when a realization is made and results in change (symbolic archetype)

The Maze

puzzling dilemma or great uncertainty, search for the dangerous monster inside of oneself, or a journey into the heart of darkness (symbolic archetype)

The Castle

a strong place of safety which holds treasure or princess, may be enchanted or bewitched (symbolic archetype)

The Tower

strong place of evil, represents the isolation of self (symbolic archetype)

The Magic Weapon

the weapon the hero needs in order to complete his quest (symbolic archetype)

The Whirlpool

symbolizes the destructive power of nature or fate (symbolic archetype)

Fog

symbolizes uncertainty (symbolic archetype)

Red

blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder (symbolic archetype, color)

Green

growth, hope, fertility (symbolic archetype, color)

Blue

highly positive, security, tranquility, spiritual purity (symbolic archetype, color)

Black

darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy (symbolic archetype, color)

White

light, purity, innocence, timelessness, death, horror, supernatural (symbolic archetype, color)

Yellow

enlightenment, wisdom (symbolic archetype, color)

3

light, spiritual awareness, unity, male principle (symbolic archetype, number)

4

associated with circle, life cycle, seasons, female principle, earth, nature, elements (symbolic archetype, number)

7

most potent of all symbolic numbers signifying the completion of a cycle, perfect order, perfect number, religious symbol (symbolic archetype, number)

The Hero

protagonist whose life is a series of well-marked adventures. circumstances of birth are unusual, and he is raised by a guardian (character archetypes)

Young Man from the Provinces

her returns to his home and heritage where he is a stranger who can see new problems and new solutions (character archetypes)

The Initiates

young heroes or heroines who must go through some training and ceremony before undertaking their quest (character archetypes)

Mentor

an older, wiser teacher to the initiates, often serving as parental figure, giving heroes gifts, and serving as a role model or hero’s conscience (character archetypes)

Mentor-Pupil Relationship

in this relationship, mentor teaches the hero the necessary skills for surviving the quest (character archetypes)

The Threshold Guardian

tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin the journey (character archetypes)

Father-Son Conflict

in this relationship, the tension is built due to separation from childhood or some other source when the two meet as men (character archetypes)

Hunting Group of Companions

these are loyal companions willing to face hardship and ordeal in order to stay together (character archetypes)

Loyal Retainers

duty is to reflect the nobility and power of the hero (character archetypes)

Friendly Beast

animal companion showing that nature is on the side of the hero (character archetypes)

The Shadow

worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle in a fight to the end. must be destroyed or neutralized; can represent the darker side of the hero’s own psyche (character archetypes)

The Devil Figure

this character is evil incarnate (character archetypes)

The Evil Figure with Ultimately Good Heart

the devil figure with the potential to be good. this person is usually saved by the love of the hero (character archetypes)