Comprehensive Archetypes in Literature: Heroes, Villains, and Symbols

Hero Archetype: Warrior

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

Hero Archetype: Lover

A pure love motivates hero to complete his quest (Prince Charming)

Hero Archetype: Scapegoat

Hero suffers for the sake of others (Jesus)

Hero Archetype: Transcendent hero

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

Hero Archetype: Romantic/Gothic hero

hero/lover with a decidedly dark side (Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre)

Hero Archetype: Proto-Feminist hero

female heroes

Hero Archetype: Apocalyptic hero

a 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/goodness

Hero Archetype: Unbalanced hero

the protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional deficiencies

Hero Archetype: The other-the denied hero

the protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible

Hero Archetype: The superheroic

has superpower. Someone who does not quite belong but nonetheless needed by society.

Villain Archetype: Tyrant

bullying despot, wants power at any price. He will think nothing of destroying you.

Villain Archetype: Bastard

dispossessed son, burns with resentment. He can't have what he wants, so he lashes out to hurt those around him. Don't be fooled by his boyish demeanor - he's a bundle of hate.

Villain Archetype: Devil

charming fiend, gives people what he thinks they deserve. Able to discover moral weaknesses in others. He will tempt you to disaster.

Villain Archetype: Traitor

double agent, he betrays those who trust him most. Despite supportive smiles and sympathetic ears, he plots destruction of his friends.

Villain Archetype: Outcast

lonely outsider, he wants desperately to belong. Set off from others usually for good cause. Craves redemption, but willing to gain it by sacrificing others.

Villain Archetype: Evil Genius

malevolent mastermind, loves to show off his superior intelligence. Intellectual inferiors are contemptible to him. The game is always rigged in his favor.

Villain Archetype: Sadist

savage predator, enjoys cruelty for its own sake. Violence and psychological brutality are games to him. He will tear out your heart and laugh while doing it.

Villain Archetype: Terrorist

the dark knight, serves a warped code of honor. Self-righteous, judges all around him by a strict set of laws. The end always justifies his nefarious means, no conventional morality will give him pause.

Villain Archetype (F): Bitch

abusive autocrat, lies, cheats, and steals her way to the top. Climb to success left heel mark on backs of others. She doesn't help anyone but herself.

Villain Archetype (F): Black Widow

beguiling siren, she lures victims into her web, goes after anyone who has something she wants, and she wants a lot. An expert at seduction of every variety. Don't be fooled, it's all a lie.

Villain Archetype (F): Backstabber

two-faced friend. Her sympathetic smiles enable her to learn the victim's secrets. Seemingly helpful advice is just the thing to hinder.

Villain Archetype (F): Lunatic

unbalanced madwoman, draws others into her crazy environment. To her, it's the rest of the world that is out of step. Don't try to understand her logic - it's unfathomable.

Villain Archetype (F): Parasite

the poisonous vine, she collaborates for her own comfort. Goes along with any atrocity, so long as her own security is assured. Sees herself as a victim who had no choice, blames others for her crimes.

Villain Archetype (F): Schemer

lethal plotter, devises the ruin of others. Watch out for her complex designs.

Villain Archetype (F): Fanatic

uncompromising extremist, does wrong in the name of good. Justifies her action by her intent, merely shrugs shoulder at collateral damage. Anyone not an ally is an enemy. She firmly believes you are wrong.

Villain Archetype (F): Matriarch

the motherly oppressor, she smothers her loved ones. Knows what's the best and will do all in her power to control the lives of those surround her-all for their own good. Sees no fault with her darlings, unless they don't follow her dictates.

Heroine Archetype: Boss

a real go-getter, she climbs the ladder of success. "Take charge" female, who accepts nothing but respect. Reaching goal is the most important thing in life to her, is not bothered by few ruffled feathers along the way.

Heroine Archetype: Seductress

an enchantress, she gets her way. Long accustomed to sizing up everyone in the room. Mysterious and manipulative, she hides a streak of distrust. Cynicism guides her action. A tough sense of survival means do whatever is necessary to come out ahead.

Heroine Archetype: Spunky Kid

gutsy and true, she is loyal to the end. Favorite of many writers for good reason. Girl with moxie. Not looking to be at the top, just wants to be in her own little niche. Always ready to lend a hand.

Heroine Archetype: Free Spirit

eternal optimist. Playful and fun-loving, she travels through life with hop, skip, and jump, always stopping to smell flowers. Acts on a whim and follows her heart, not her head.

Heroine Archetype: Waif

distressed damsel (young unmarried woman), bends the wind. Original damsel in distress. Child-like innocence evokes a protective urge in the beastliest of heroes. Has tremendous strength of will. She won't fight back; she will endure.

Heroine Archetype: Librarian

controlled and clever, she holds back. Prim and proper belies a passionate woman. Dressed to repress, might be the know-it-all in class.

Heroine Archetype: Crusader

dedicated fighter, meets her commitments. She is on a mission, and she marches right over anyone in her way. Tenacious and headstrong, she brushes off any opposition to her goal.

Heroine Archetype: Nurturer

serene and capable and optimistic, she nourishes the spirit. She takes care of everyone. Wonderful listener, and a joy to have around.

Archetypal Journey

The quest for identity | physical or psychological journey to define oneself

Hero's Journey Stage

Departure | hero is called to adventure but is reluctant to accept

Hero changes internally

Hero's Journey Stage: Return and Reintegration with Society | uses new wisdom to restore fertility and order to the land

Naive/Inexperienced

Hero is naive and inexperienced

Monsters

Meets monsters or monstrous men

Mentor

Has a strange wise being as a mentor

Beautiful Lady

Yearns for the beautiful lady who is sometimes his guide or inspo

Lesson

Must go on a journey, learn a lesson, change, and return

Crossing

Often crosses a body of water or bridge

Rural Setting

Born and raised in a rural setting away from cities

Mysterious Origin

Origin of hero is mysterious, loses parents at young age, raised by animals or wise guardian

Return in Disguise

Returns to land of his birth in disguise or unknown

Represents Culture

Hero is special; might represent a whole nation or culture

Divine Aid

Has help from divine or supernatural forces

Guides

Has a guide or guides

Rite of Passage

Goes thru a rite of passage or initiation, marks a change from immature to more mature understanding of the world

Ceremony

Undergoes some time of ritual or ceremony after initiation

Companions

Has a loyal band of companions

Stirring Speech

Makes a stirring speech to companion

Tests

Engages in tests or contests of strength to show pride in excellence

Unhealable Wound

Suffers an unhealable wound, sometimes emotional or spiritual from which they never completely recover

The Quest

What the hero must accomplish to bring fertility back to wasteland (a talisman) to fix a troubled land; Moana must restore the heart of Tafiti.

The Task

Nearly superhuman feat hero must perform to complete quest; King Arthur pulling blade to prove his right to throne.

The Journey

Sends hero in search of some truth, to save kingdom; Simba's journey to save his kingdom.

The Initiation

Adolescent comes into maturity with new awareness and problems; Jem Finch after watching Atticus's trial.

The Ritual

Actual ceremonies that initiate experiences; clear sign of character's role in his society; the sorting ceremony when Harry is announced as Gryffindor.

The Fall

Often punishment for transgression; loss of innocence; Macbeth dying at hands of Macduff.

Death and Rebirth

Most common; parallel between cycle of nature and cycle of life; morning and springtime = birth, youth, rebirth; evening and winter: old age, death; the Beast's physical rebirth in Beauty and the Beast.

Battle between Good and Evil

Eternal optimism; good triumphs over evil despite great odds; Harry vs Voldemort and Harry wins.

The Unhealable Wound

Physical or psychological and cannot be fully healed; loss of innocence; Quasimodo's physical impairment in the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Light vs Darkness

Light usually suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness implies the unknown, ignorance, or despair - TKAM - Atticus Finch represents light while racist society of Maycomb represents darkness.

LOTF

Ralph and Piggy want order and reason (light) whereas Jack's tribe represents chaos and savagery (Darkness).

Symbolic Archetype: Innate Wisdom vs Educated Stupidity

Some characters exhibit wisdom and understanding of situations instinctively as opposed to those supposedly in charge. Loyal retainers often exhibit this wisdom as they accompany the hero on the journey.

The Pearl

Gains the wisdom through suffering, while the supposedly educated townspeople act out of greed and manipulation.

TKAM

Scott, though a child, understands more moral truths than the educated adults surrounding him.

Symbolic Archetype: Supernatural Intervention

Spiritual beings intervene on the side of the hero or sometimes against him.

Macbeth

The witches provide prophecies that drive Macbeth's ambition - supernatural forces meddling in mortal affairs.

Symbolic Archetype: Fire and Ice

Fire represents knowledge, light, life and rebirth, while ice, like the desert, represents ignorance, darkness, sterility and death.

LOTF Fire

Represents rescue and civilization when used correctly, but also destruction (burned the island).

Macbeth Lady Macbeth

Her cold calculation nature (ice) contrasts with Macbeth's fiery ambition.

Symbolic Archetype: Nature vs Mechanistic World

Nature is good while technology is evil.

Animal Farm

Nature (animals' natural lives) is corrupted by the mechanistic oppressive political system led by the pigs.

Symbolic Archetype: Threshold

Gateway to a new world which the hero must enter to change and grow.

Macbeth Threshold

Macbeth crosses the threshold when he murders Duncan; there is no going back.

Symbolic Archetype: The Underworld

A place of death or metaphorically an encounter with the dark side of the self.

Macbeth's Inner Descent

Reflects a metaphorical journey into the underworld of guilt and paranoia after killing Duncan.

Symbolic Archetype: Haven vs Wilderness

Places of safety contrast sharply against a dangerous wilderness.

LOTF Shelters

The shelters built by Ralph represent a temporary haven; the jungle is the dangerous wilderness.

Symbolic Archetype: Water vs Desert

Water is necessary to life and growth, commonly appearing as a birth symbol, while the desert suggests the opposite.

The Ocean and the Pearl

The ocean gives the pearl (life/hope), but eventually becomes the place where he loses everything - suggesting transformation.

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 Crossroad

A place or time of decision when a realization is made and change or penance results.

Symbolic Archetype: The Maze

A puzzling dilemma or great uncertainty, search for the dangerous monster inside 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

A strong place of evil, represents 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: Colors

Red: blood, sacrifices, passion, disorder. Green: growth, hope, fertility. Blue: highly positive, security, tranquility, spiritual purity. Black: darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy. White: light, purity, innocence, timelessness (negatives: death, horror, supernatural). Yellow: enlightenment, wisdom.

Symbolic Archetype: Numbers

3 - light, spiritual awareness, unity (holy trinity), male principle. 4 - associated with the cycle, cycle of life, four seasons, female principle, earth, nature, elements. 7 - most potent of all the symbolic numbers signifying the union of three and four, the completion of a cycle, perfect order, perfect number, religious symbol.

Character Archetype: The Hero

The protagonist whose life is a series of well-marked adventures, characterized by courage, strength, and honor.

Character Archetype: Young Man from the provinces

The Hero returns to his home and heritage where he is a stranger who can see new problems and new solutions.

Character Archetype: The Initiates

Young heroes or heroines who must go through some training and ceremony before undertaking their quest.

Character Archetype: Mentor

An older, wiser teacher to the initiates who often serves as a father/mother figure.