Literary Archetypes

Honors 1/2 P3

The Hero

• Embarks on quest or journey

• Displays courage, perseverance, and growth

• Ex: Harry Potter, King Arthur, Katniss Everdeen

The Mentor

• Guides and supports the hero with wisdom

• May sacrifice themselves for the greater good

• Ex: Gandalf, Yoda, Dumbledore

The Villain/Shadow

• Opposes the hero and represents conflict or evil

• Often a mirror to the hero’s flaws or fears

• Ex: Voldemort, Darth Vader, Lago

The Trickster

• Brings humor, mischief, or disruption

• May challenge the status quo or assist indirectly

• Ex: Loki, Puck, Jack Sparrow

The Lover

• Motivated by love or emotional bonds

• Often faces obstacles to maintain connection

• Ex: Romeo, Juliet, Elizabeth Bennet

The Innocent

• A pure, naive, or hopeful character

• Often contrasts with the harshness of their world

• Ex: Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), Pip (Great Expectations)

The Explorer

• Seeks discovery, adventure, or personal growth

• Motivated by curiosity and a desire for freedom

• Ex: Indiana Jones, Moana

The Ruler

• Desires control, order, or leadership

• Can be a benevolent leader or a tryannical ruler

• Ex: Mufasa, King Lear

The Caregiver

• Provides nurturing, protection, and support.

• Often selfless and compassionate.

• Examples: Marmee (Little Women), Samwise Gamgee

The Outcast

• Rejected or ostracized by society.

• May seek revenge, redemption, or acceptance.

• Examples: Frankenstein’s Monster, Hester Prynne.

The Hero’s Journey

• A journey with stages of departure, trials, transformation, and return.

• Examples: The Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings.

The Quest

• The hero seeks a goal or object of great importance.

• Examples: Indiana Jones, The Hobbit.

The Fall

• A character’s descent from a high status to disgrace or ruin.

• Examples: Macbeth, Lucifer.

The Battle Between Good and Evil

• Central struggle where moral opposites clash.

• Examples: Star Wars, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Death and Rebirth

• A cycle representing change, renewal, or transformation.

• Examples: The Lion King, A Christmas Carol.

The Rite of Passage

• A journey or experience symbolizing maturity or initiation.

• Examples: The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Light and Darkness

• Symbolizes knowledge, good versus ignorance, or evil.

• Examples: Candles (light) and shadows in Frankenstein.

Water

• Represents purification, life, or rebirth.

• Examples: Baptisms, oceans in The Great Gatsby.

The Forest

• A mysterious place of challenges or self-discovery.

• Examples: The Forbidden Forest, fairy tales.

The Garden

• A symbol of paradise, harmony, or innocence.

• Examples: The Garden of Eden, The Secret Garden.

The Desert

• Represents emptiness, isolation, or spiritual testing.

• Examples: Dune, The Road.

Red

Passion, love, violence, or danger. (e.g., the red A in The Scarlet Letter)

White

Purity, innocence, or emptiness. (e.g., snow as renewal or death in

Ethan Frome)

Black

Evil, death, the unknown, or mystery. (e.g., the black cloak of the Grim

Reaper)

Gold

Wealth, success, or divine power. (e.g., the golden snitch in Harry Potter)

Green

Growth, renewal, jealousy, or greed. (e.g., the green light in The Great

Gatsby)

The Tree

Knowledge, life, or connection between worlds. (e.g., the Tree of Life,

Yggdrasil in Norse mythology)

The River

The flow of time, journey, or change. (e.g., the Mississippi River in

Huckleberry Finn)

The Bridge

Transition, connection, or crossing between worlds. (e.g., Rainbow

Bridge in Norse mythology)

The Tower

Isolation, power, or a challenge to overcome. (e.g., Rapunzel’s

tower, Barad-dûr in Lord of the Rings)

The Door/Gate

Opportunity, transition, or mystery. (e.g., the wardrobe in The

Chronicles of Narnia)

The Serpent

Temptation, evil, or transformation. (e.g., the snake in the Garden

of Eden, Nagini in Harry Potter)

The Lion

Strength, leadership, nobility. (e.g., Aslan in The Chronicles of

Narnia)

The Eagle

Freedom, vision, divine power. (e.g., Zeus’s eagle, American

symbolism)

The Raven

Death, mystery, or prophecy. (e.g., The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe)

The Wolf

Instinct, loyalty, or savagery. (e.g., Fenrir in Norse mythology,

direwolves in Game of Thrones)