An archetype is an emotion, character type, or event that is notably recurrent across the human experience. In the arts, an archetype creates an immediate sense of familiarity, allowing an audience member to relate to an event or character without having to necessarily ponder *why* they relate. Thanks to our instincts and life experiences, we’re able to recognize archetypes without any need for explanation.

Although there is overlap among archetypes, stereotypes, stock characters, and clichés, the words are not synonyms. As a general rule, common archetypes and stock characters provide guidelines for characterization, while stereotypes and clichés are negative labels, used to describe bad writing or shallow thinking. 

- A __stereotype__ is an oversimplified notion or characterization. Some stereotypes are negative (“the dumb jock”), others are positive (“the innocent child”), but all are considered overly simplistic and undesirable in literature.
- A __cliché__ is an idea, event, or detail that’s used so repeatedly in literature or film that used that it becomes predictable and even boring. An example of a cliché might include the TV firefighter haunted by the memory of the one damsel in distress that he couldn’t save. An archetype, by contrast, does not imply predictability or intellectual laziness. Most of the time, it suggests that a character or situation will speak to a universal truth. Archetypes will by definition be familiar, but they aren’t so predictable that we already know what will happen in their story.
- A __stock character__ is somewhere between an archetype and a stereotype: a character who intentionally fits a narrow, predictable description. Well-selected stock characters (e.g., a wise old man or a puffed-up military officer) can serve as an effective foil for a main character, particularly in comedy, but they aren’t compelling as protagonists. Stock characters originate classic European tradition of *commedia dell’arte*, in which actors would wear masks and perform over-the-top versions of stock characters.

Some archetypal characters are well known—the hero, for instance—while others, such as the sage, are discussed less frequently outside of literary circles. While some archetypes lend themselves most readily to protagonists or villains, it’s worth noting that any of these archetypes can apply to good, bad, major, or minor characters.

Here are the 12 common character archetypes, as well as examples of archetype in famous works of literature and film.

__1.__ __The Lover__

The romantic lead who’s guided by the heart.

- __Strengths__: humanism, passion, conviction
- __Weaknesses__: naivete, irrationality
- __Lover Archetype Examples__: Romeo and Juliet (*Romeo and Juliet*), Noah Calhoun (*The Notebook*), Scarlett O’Hara (*Gone With the Wind*), Belle (*Beauty and the Beast*)

__2.__ __The Hero__

The protagonist who rises to meet a challenge and saves the day.

- __Strengths__: courage, perseverance, honor
- __Weaknesses__: overconfidence, hubris
- __Hero Archetype Examples__: Achilles (*The Iliad*), Luke Skywalker (*Star Wars*), Wonder Woman (*Wonder Woman*), Harry Potter (*Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*)

__3.__ __The Magician__

A powerful figure who has harnessed the ways of the universe to achieve key goals.

- __Strengths__: omniscience, omnipotence, discipline
- __Weaknesses__: corruptibility, arrogance
- __Magician Archetype Examples__: Prospero (*The Tempest*), Gandalf (*The Lord of the Rings*), Morpheus (*The Matrix*), Darth Vader (*Star Wars*)

__4.__ __The Outlaw__

The rebel who won’t abide by society’s demands.

- __Strengths__: independent thinking, virtue, owes no favors
- __Weaknesses__: self-involved, potentially criminal
- __Outlaw Archetype Examples__: Han Solo (*Star Wars*), Dean Moriarty (*On the Road*), Humbert Humbert (*Lolita*), Batman (*The Dark Knight*)

__5.__ __The Explorer__ 

A character naturally driven to push the boundaries of the status quo and explore the unknown.

- __Strengths__: curious, driven, motivated by self-improvement
- __Weaknesses__: restless, unreliable, never satisfied
- __Explorer Archetype Examples__: Odysseus (*The Odyssey*), Sal Paradise (*On the Road*), Huckleberry Finn (*The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn*), Sherlock Holmes (*Sherlock Holmes*)

__6.__ __The Sage__

A wise figure with knowledge for those who inquire. The mother figure or mentor is often based on this archetype.

- __Strengths__: wisdom, experience, insight
- __Weaknesses__: cautious, hesitant to actually join the action
- __Famous sages__: Athena (*The Odyssey*), Obi-Wan Kenobi (*Star Wars*), Hannibal Lecter (*The Silence of the Lambs*), The Oracle (*The Matrix*)

__7.__ __The Innocent__

A morally pure character, often a child, whose only intentions are good.

- __Strengths__: morality, kindness, sincerity
- __Weaknesses__: vulnerable, naive, rarely skilled
- __Innocent Archetype Examples__: Tiny Tim (*A Christmas Carol*), Lennie Small (*Of Mice and Men*), Cio-Cio-san (*Madame Butterfly*), Buddy the Elf (*Elf*)

__8.__ __The Creator__

A motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative.

- __Strengths__: creativity, willpower, conviction
- __Weaknesses__: self-involvement, single-mindedness, lack of practical skills
- __Creator Archetype Examples__: Zeus (*The Iliad*), Dr. Emmett Brown (*Back to the Future*), Dr. Moreau (*The Island of Dr. Moreau*), Dr. Victor Frankenstein (*Frankenstein*)

__9.__ __The Ruler__

A character with legal or emotional power over others.

- __Strengths__: omnipotence, status, resources
- __Weaknesses__: aloofness, disliked by others, out of touch
- __Ruler Archetype Examples__: Creon (*Oedipus Rex*), King Lear (*King Lear*), Aunt Sally (*The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn*), Tony Soprano (*The Sopranos*)

__10.__ __The Caregiver__

A character who continually supports others and makes sacrifices on their behalf.

- __Strengths__: honorable, selfless, loyal
- __Weaknesses__: lacking personal ambition or leadership
- __Caregiver Archetype Examples__: Dolly Oblonsky (*Anna Karenina*), Calpurnia (*To Kill a Mockingbird*), Samwell Tarly (The *Game of Thrones* series), Mary Poppins (*Mary Poppins*)

__11.__ __The Everyman__

A relatable character who feels recognizable from daily life.

- __Strengths__: grounded, salt-of-the-earth, relatable
- __Weaknesses__: lacking special powers, often unprepared for what’s to come
- __Everyman Archetype Examples__: Bilbo Baggins (*The Hobbit*), Leopold Bloom (*Ulysses*), Leslie Knope (*Parks & Recreation*), Winston Smith (*1984*)

__12.__ __The Jester__

A funny character or trickster who provides comic relief, but may also speak important truths.

- __Strengths__: funny, disarming, insightful
- __Weaknesses__: can be obnoxious and superficial
- __Jester Archetype Examples__: Sir John Falstaff (*Henry V*), King Lear’s Fool (*King Lear*), Frank and Estelle Costanza (*Seinfeld*), R2D2 and C-3PO (*Star Wars*)

These 12 archetypes, each with highly identifiable traits, populate our books, poetry, films, and theatrical productions.

In addition to articulating the concept of “[the hero’s journey](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-the-heros-journey),” academic Joseph Campbell helped popularize the idea of character archetypes in literature.

Author of the seminal work *The Hero With a Thousand Faces* (1949), Campbell applied the ideas of thinkers like Sir James George Frazer and Carl Jung, combining them with his own to distill eight character archetypes found throughout the hero’s journey:

1. Hero
2. Mentor
3. Ally
4. Herald
5. Trickster
6. Shapeshifter
7. Guardian
8. Shadow

Campbell’s ideas resonated with Hollywood filmmakers, particularly George Lucas, who was vocal about crafting the arc of *Star Wars*’ Luke Skywalker around the story beats of the hero’s journey. This made Luke more of a “classical” character, since Campbell’s theory came out of extensive study of classical literature and theater.
Whether you’re creating a story as an artistic exercise or trying to get the attention of publishing houses, making comics is an iterative and collaborative process. Award-winning author of *The Sandman* series [Neil Gaiman](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/neil-gaiman-teaches-the-art-of-storytelling) has spent decades honing his comic book-writing craft. In Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass on the art of storytelling, he shares all he’s learned on how to make a comic book, including finding inspiration, drawing panels, and collaborating with other creatives.

Want to become a better writer? [The MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) provides exclusive video lessons on plot, character development, creating suspense, and more, all taught by literary masters, including Neil Gaiman, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, David Baldacci, and more.

For thousands of years, narrative artforms have featured archetypes—characters built on a set of traits that are specific and identifiable. The heroes and villains of today’s books and films may be based on the same heroic and villainous archetypes found in fairy tales, the novels of Charles Dickens, the poetry of John Milton, and the theater of the ancient Greeks.


For thousands of years, narrative artforms have featured archetypes—characters built on a set of traits that are specific and identifiable. The heroes and villains of today’s books and films may be based on the same heroic and villainous archetypes found in fairy tales, the novels of Charles Dickens, the poetry of John Milton, and the theater of the ancient Greeks.


Writing 101: The 12 Literary Archetypes

An archetype is an emotion, character type, or event that is notably recurrent across the human experience. In the arts, an archetype creates an immediate sense of familiarity, allowing an audience member to relate to an event or character without having to necessarily ponder why they relate. Thanks to our instincts and life experiences, we’re able to recognize archetypes without any need for explanation.

What Is an Archetype? 

Although there is overlap among archetypes, stereotypes, stock characters, and clichés, the words are not synonyms. As a general rule, common archetypes and stock characters provide guidelines for characterization, while stereotypes and clichés are negative labels, used to describe bad writing or shallow thinking. <ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">A stereotype is an oversimplified notion or characterization. Some stereotypes are negative (“the dumb jock”), others are positive (“the innocent child”), but all are considered overly simplistic and undesirable in literature. </li><li class="">A cliché is an idea, event, or detail that’s used so repeatedly in literature or film that used that it becomes predictable and even boring. An example of a cliché might include the TV firefighter haunted by the memory of the one damsel in distress that he couldn’t save. An archetype, by contrast, does not imply predictability or intellectual laziness. Most of the time, it suggests that a character or situation will speak to a universal truth. Archetypes will by definition be familiar, but they aren’t so predictable that we already know what will happen in their story. </li><li class="">A stock character is somewhere between an archetype and a stereotype: a character who intentionally fits a narrow, predictable description. Well-selected stock characters (e.g., a wise old man or a puffed-up military officer) can serve as an effective foil for a main character, particularly in comedy, but they aren’t compelling as protagonists. Stock characters originate classic European tradition of commedia dell’arte, in which actors would wear masks and perform over-the-top versions of stock characters. </li></ul>

What’s the Difference Between Archetypes, Stereotypes, Stock Characters, and Clichés?

Some archetypal characters are well known—the hero, for instance—while others, such as the sage, are discussed less frequently outside of literary circles. While some archetypes lend themselves most readily to protagonists or villains, it’s worth noting that any of these archetypes can apply to good, bad, major, or minor characters.Here are the 12 common character archetypes, as well as examples of archetype in famous works of literature and film.1. The LoverThe romantic lead who’s guided by the heart.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: humanism, passion, conviction </li><li class="">Weaknesses: naivete, irrationality </li><li class="">Lover Archetype Examples: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Noah Calhoun (The Notebook), Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With the Wind), Belle (Beauty and the Beast) </li></ul>2. The HeroThe protagonist who rises to meet a challenge and saves the day.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: courage, perseverance, honor </li><li class="">Weaknesses: overconfidence, hubris </li><li class="">Hero Archetype Examples: Achilles (The Iliad), Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman), Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) </li></ul>3. The MagicianA powerful figure who has harnessed the ways of the universe to achieve key goals.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: omniscience, omnipotence, discipline </li><li class="">Weaknesses: corruptibility, arrogance </li><li class="">Magician Archetype Examples: Prospero (The Tempest), Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings), Morpheus (The Matrix), Darth Vader (Star Wars) </li></ul>4. The OutlawThe rebel who won’t abide by society’s demands.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: independent thinking, virtue, owes no favors </li><li class="">Weaknesses: self-involved, potentially criminal </li><li class="">Outlaw Archetype Examples: Han Solo (Star Wars), Dean Moriarty (On the Road), Humbert Humbert (Lolita), Batman (The Dark Knight) </li></ul>5. The Explorer A character naturally driven to push the boundaries of the status quo and explore the unknown.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: curious, driven, motivated by self-improvement </li><li class="">Weaknesses: restless, unreliable, never satisfied </li><li class="">Explorer Archetype Examples: Odysseus (The Odyssey), Sal Paradise (On the Road), Huckleberry Finn (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes) </li></ul>6. The SageA wise figure with knowledge for those who inquire. The mother figure or mentor is often based on this archetype.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: wisdom, experience, insight </li><li class="">Weaknesses: cautious, hesitant to actually join the action </li><li class="">Famous sages: Athena (The Odyssey), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars), Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs), The Oracle (The Matrix) </li></ul>7. The InnocentA morally pure character, often a child, whose only intentions are good.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: morality, kindness, sincerity </li><li class="">Weaknesses: vulnerable, naive, rarely skilled </li><li class="">Innocent Archetype Examples: Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol), Lennie Small (Of Mice and Men), Cio-Cio-san (Madame Butterfly), Buddy the Elf (Elf) </li></ul>8. The CreatorA motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: creativity, willpower, conviction </li><li class="">Weaknesses: self-involvement, single-mindedness, lack of practical skills </li><li class="">Creator Archetype Examples: Zeus (The Iliad), Dr. Emmett Brown (Back to the Future), Dr. Moreau (The Island of Dr. Moreau), Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein) </li></ul>9. The RulerA character with legal or emotional power over others.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: omnipotence, status, resources </li><li class="">Weaknesses: aloofness, disliked by others, out of touch </li><li class="">Ruler Archetype Examples: Creon (Oedipus Rex), King Lear (King Lear), Aunt Sally (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), Tony Soprano (The Sopranos) </li></ul>10. The CaregiverA character who continually supports others and makes sacrifices on their behalf.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: honorable, selfless, loyal </li><li class="">Weaknesses: lacking personal ambition or leadership </li><li class="">Caregiver Archetype Examples: Dolly Oblonsky (Anna Karenina), Calpurnia (To Kill a Mockingbird), Samwell Tarly (The Game of Thrones series), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) </li></ul>11. The EverymanA relatable character who feels recognizable from daily life.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: grounded, salt-of-the-earth, relatable </li><li class="">Weaknesses: lacking special powers, often unprepared for what’s to come </li><li class="">Everyman Archetype Examples: Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit), Leopold Bloom (Ulysses), Leslie Knope (Parks &amp; Recreation), Winston Smith (1984) </li></ul>12. The JesterA funny character or trickster who provides comic relief, but may also speak important truths.<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Strengths: funny, disarming, insightful </li><li class="">Weaknesses: can be obnoxious and superficial </li><li class="">Jester Archetype Examples: Sir John Falstaff (Henry V), King Lear’s Fool (King Lear), Frank and Estelle Costanza (Seinfeld), R2D2 and C-3PO (Star Wars) </li></ul>These 12 archetypes, each with highly identifiable traits, populate our books, poetry, films, and theatrical productions.

12 Archetypal Characters to Use in Your Writing

In addition to articulating the concept of “<a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-the-heros-journey' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-the-heros-journey","linkCopy":"the hero’s journey","category":null}'>the hero’s journey</a>,” academic Joseph Campbell helped popularize the idea of character archetypes in literature.Author of the seminal work The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949), Campbell applied the ideas of thinkers like Sir James George Frazer and Carl Jung, combining them with his own to distill eight character archetypes found throughout the hero’s journey:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Hero </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Mentor </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Ally </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Herald </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Trickster </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Shapeshifter </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Guardian </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. Shadow </li></ol>Campbell’s ideas resonated with Hollywood filmmakers, particularly George Lucas, who was vocal about crafting the arc of Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker around the story beats of the hero’s journey. This made Luke more of a “classical” character, since Campbell’s theory came out of extensive study of classical literature and theater.

Joseph Campbell and Character Archetypes

Whether you’re creating a story as an artistic exercise or trying to get the attention of publishing houses, making comics is an iterative and collaborative process. Award-winning author of The Sandman series <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/neil-gaiman-teaches-the-art-of-storytelling' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/neil-gaiman-teaches-the-art-of-storytelling","linkCopy":"Neil Gaiman","category":null}'>Neil Gaiman</a> has spent decades honing his comic book-writing craft. In Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass on the art of storytelling, he shares all he’s learned on how to make a comic book, including finding inspiration, drawing panels, and collaborating with other creatives.Want to become a better writer? <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"The MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>The MasterClass Annual Membership</a> provides exclusive video lessons on plot, character development, creating suspense, and more, all taught by literary masters, including Neil Gaiman, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, David Baldacci, and more.

Want to Become a Better Writer?

For thousands of years, narrative artforms have featured archetypes—characters built on a set of traits that are specific and identifiable. The heroes and villains of today’s books and films may be based on the same heroic and villainous archetypes found in fairy tales, the novels of Charles Dickens, the poetry of John Milton, and the theater of the ancient Greeks.