Archetype

Definition of Archetype
As a literary device, an archetype is a reoccurring symbol or motif throughout literature that
represents universal patterns of human nature. It can also refer to the original model on which
all other things of the same kind are based. For example, the common character of a hero is
an archetype in that all heroes in literature share some key traits. We can also call certain
famous heroes such as King Arthur and Luke Skywalker archetypal heroes, as they fit this
mold.

The word archetype comes from a compound Greek word for “origin” and “model.”
Therefore, the definition of archetype refers to it as the first form for whatever else comes
after it. Archetypes are abstract in that the first mold is not a specific person or thing, but
instead a concept made concrete by specific and reoccurring examples and patterns in
literature. Therefore there is no one character who is the archetype for all heroes that came
after, but instead an intangible sense of hero that is personified by the many hundreds of hero
examples that have been created in literature.

Common Examples of Archetype

It can be helpful to think of archetype as similar to a cookie cutter. The cookie cutter is not
the cookie itself, but instead gives form to the cookie. While we colloquially use the term
“cookie cutter” to mean identical products, one could argue that a cookie cutter could be used
on infinitely diverse types of dough. Therefore, the product is always similarly shaped, yet
has a vast array of possible variations, just like archetypes.

Many types of media use archetypes with frequency. Reality shows always seem to portray at
least one character as the villain, while sitcoms often have the archetypal character of the
sidekick.

There is a huge list of character types, symbols, and situations that are considered archetypes.
Here are some examples of archetype from real life:

 Hero: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi

 Rebel: Che Guevara, William Wallace

 Ruler: Napoleon, Genghis Khan

 Healer: Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa

 Adventurer: Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo

 Innocent: Anne Frank, Malala Musafzai

  Genius: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci

 Jester: Mark Twain, Charlie Chaplin

 Outlaw: Jesse James, Butch Cassidy

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the reader.Significance of Archetype in Literature

Almost all works of literature contain examples of archetype. This is because archetypes stem
from cultural and psychological myths that are universal or nearly so. For example, the plot
of a character going on a quest is found in oral storytelling traditions and works of literature
from around the world and from all time periods. Thus the “quest” plot is an archetype. Since
almost all types of plots and characters have been codified into archetypes it is difficult, if not
impossible, to create a story without using these long established symbols and patterns. By
trading in archetypes, authors help the audience understand what the expectations are for a
certain type of story or character. The author then doesn’t have to explain as much, and when
the author breaks from the mold to some degree, that rupture will be all the more intriguing to