ARCHETYPESArchetypes are recurring characters, settings, plot patterns, and symbols that give literature its unity. In other words, they are the basic patterns that occur repeatedly in literature of all ages.

ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS Alter-ego Helpful animal Earth Mother Wise Old Man Temptress Hero Anti-Hero Innocent Scapegoat/Sacrificial

Victim Trickster Villain Transgressor

Destroyer Handsome Prince Helpless Princess

HERO: USUALLY PORTRAYED AS LARGER THAN LIFE, THE HERO HAS OUTSTANDING QUALITIES AND ABILITIES AND UPHOLDS THE VALUES OF HIS CULTURE OR SOCIETY

Harry Potter Santiago

ANTI-HERO: THIS CHARACTER DOES NOT UPHOLD THE VALUES OF IS SOCIETY AS HE ATTEMPTS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOALS. WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A BAD GUY, HE IS OFTEN AN ANTI-HERO. THE ANTI-HERO IS NOT THE SAME AS THE VILLAIN.

The Englishman

ALTER-EGO OR DOUBLE: SPLIT PERSONALITIES OR OPPOSITE TENDENCIES WITHIN A SINGLE CHARACTER. OR, A “DUPLICATE” CHARACTER THAT DISPLAYS OPPOSITE TENDENCIES.

Severus SnapeThe Crystal Merchant

INNOCENT: A CHILD OR NAÏVE AND INEXPERIENCED MAN OR WOMAN WHO IS THEN EXPOSED TO THE EVILS OF THE WORLD. THE CHARACTER USUALLY MOVES FROM INNOCENCE TO EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. OFTEN THE HERO OF THE STORY, ESPECIALLY IF HE IS A CHILD AT THE START.

SCAPEGOAT OR SACRIFICIAL VICTIM: ONE WHO SUFFERS OR IS BLAMED UNJUSTLY IN ORDER FOR OTHERS TO ESCAPE BLAME OR PUNISHMENT. ALSO, OFTEN THE HERO. OR ONE WHO MAKES THE WAY FOR THE HERO TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOALS.

Harry Potter Santiago

TRICKSTER: A CHARACTER WHO, THROUGH SUPERIOR WIT OR CUNNING, CAN DECEIVE AND MANIPULATE THOSE WHO SEEMINGLY HAVE GREATER STRENGTH OR AUTHORITY

Fred and George Weasley

Thief

Fortune Teller

VILLAIN: AN EVIL CHARACTER WHO ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE HERO

Voldemort

DESTROYER: DESTROYS JUST TO DESTROY; ENJOYS EVIL FOR EVIL’S SAKE. OTHER CHARACTERS OFTEN HAVE TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING HIS/HER MOTIVATION.

Bellatrix LeStrange

TRANSGRESSOR: PUSHES THE LIMITS OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND OFTEN ANGERS “THE GODS.” THIS TRANSGRESSION OFTEN INVOLVES TECHNOLOGY.

Voldemort The Alchemist

TEMPTRESS: A CHARACTER (IF THE HERO IS MALE, USUALLY A WOMAN) WHO, THROUGH HER POWER, CAN MAKE A STRONG MAN WEAK AND A WISE MAN FOOLISH. SHE CAN BE AN IMMORAL TEMPTRESS (DISTRACTS THE HERO) OR AMORAL TEMPTRESS (MOTIVATING HIM TO ACCOMPLISH HIS QUEST).

Ginny Weasley Fatima

SUPERNATURAL HELPER OR HELPFUL ANIMAL: ANY ANIMAL/FORCE THAT USUALLY APPEARS WHEN THE HERO CANNOT SEE A WAY OUT OF HIS DILEMMA. OFTEN A LONGTIME COMPANION TO THE HERO.

Kreacher

Dobby

Hawks

Scarab Beetle

EARTH MOTHER/WISE OLD MAN: ETERNAL PROVIDER WHO PROTECTS, NOURISHES, SHELTERS, AND NOURISHES THE HERO ON HIS QUEST. THIS CHARACTER OFTEN PLAYS A LARGE ROLE EARLY ON AND REAPPEARS AT CRUCIAL TIMES OF NEED.

Albus DumbledoreMelchizidek

HELPLESS PRINCESS: WOMAN (USUALLY BEAUTIFUL) IN NEED OF A HERO TO SAVE HER FROM DEATH, EVIL ADVERSARIES, OR OTHER DANGER. THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS—THINK OLD DISNEY MOVIES.

ARCHETYPAL SETTINGS

COUNTRYSIDE: THE INNOCENT HERO OFTEN BEGINS HIS JOURNEY IS THIS SORT OF RURAL SETTING. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALING AND GOODNESS.

The Burrow

Santiago’s Pastureland

CAVES, TUNNELS, POOLS OF WATER: SYMBOLIZES DESCENT INTO THE UNCONSCIOUS OR THE INNER SELF. THE HERO EXPERIENCES SELF DISCOVERY HERE.

The Pensieve

Where Godric Gryffindor’s Sword is hidden

Voldemort’s Cave

THE ENCHANTED FOREST:

Those who enter often lose their direction or rational outlook and tap into their collective unconscious. The opposite of the cultivated gardens, which are carefully planned and are restricted to certain vegetation.

OCEANS AND DESERTS: SYMBOLIZE SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISOLATION OR EXILE. INCLUDE ISLANDS AND SHIPS AT SEA.

The Island in Voldemort’s Cave

The Desert

GARDEN: ORDERED AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT THAT IS USUALLY SAFE, HAPPY, AND NURTURING. A HERO CAN REGAIN HEALTH HERE DURING QUEST.

The Oasis

MOUNTAINS AND PEAKS: SYMBOLS OF THE QUEST FOR SPIRITUAL SELF AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND CONTACT WITH THE SUPERNATURAL, AS PEAKS ARE CLOSE TO THE HEAVENS.

The Pyramids

RIVERS: SYMBOLIZE ON-FLOWING TIME OR LIFE, ETERNAL CHANGE, DESTINY. USED AS BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WORLDS, OFTEN THOSE OF LIFE AND DEATH.

STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

DEPARTURE: THE HERO IS SEPARATED FROM THE KNOWN AND STEPS INTO THE UNKNOWN.

Harry Potter must leave Hogwarts to search for Horcruxes

Santiago must sell his sheep

INITIATION: BY CROSSING THE THRESHOLD, THE HERO'S WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER. HE/SHE GOES ON A PHYSICAL AND MENTAL JOURNEY THAT RESULTS IN NEW KNOWLEDGE OF PURPOSE AND SELF.

Santiago looks for treasureHarry looks for Horcruxes

RETURN: THROUGH THE HERO’S SACRIFICE OF SELF, HE ARRIVES AT AN ENLIGHTENED STATE.

Santiago discovers the meaning of true treasure

Harry Potter accepts his fate for the good of the wizarding world