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  1. Learn what character archetypes are, how they differ from stereotypes, and why they are useful for writers. Explore 16 classic archetypes with examples from literature and film, and discover how to subvert them in your own stories.

    • 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)
    • 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)
    • The Magician. A powerful figure who has harnessed the ways of the universe to achieve key goals. Strengths: omniscience, omnipotence, discipline. Weaknesses: corruptibility, arrogance.
    • The Outlaw. The rebel who won’t abide by society’s demands. Strengths: independent thinking, virtue, owes no favors. Weaknesses: self-involved, potentially criminal.
    • The Warrior. It’s the man with a plan. Armed with a particular set of skills and the sheer force of their will, the hero will conquer the enemy and carry the day.
    • The Child. Innocence is lost and children grow up: that’s entropy, and the only way this story goes. This archetype usually follows a young or naive character who sees the world through rose-tinted glasses — until reality comes knocking.
    • The Orphan. The dream of being plucked from obscurity and elevated to prominence is a fantasy nearly everybody’s had at some point in their lives. That’s one of the reasons why Orphans are in such high demand as protagonists: they’ve got the most to gain from good fortune.
    • The Creator. For this kind of character, nothing is more important than the need to make something. In many stories, a creator will be an artist of some sort — willing to sacrifice their own well-being and relationships in the pursuit of this greater abstract goal.
  2. Apr 10, 2023 · A character archetype is a set of personality quirks, morals, values, and behaviors found in specific characters across multiple stories. Writers use many different character archetypes to create an exciting and varied cast.

    • The Caregiver. More commonly referred to as the Mother in the past, the Caregiver is someone who selflessly and wholeheartedly supports those around them, often at their own expense.
    • The Common Person/Everyman. The Common Person is the one that everyone can easily relate to. They are the ones who work with their hands, real salt-of-the-earth kind of folk.
    • The Creator. Someone who … creates. The Creator isn’t happy unless they are making or building something, usually working towards a single creation that consumes their every thought.
    • The Explorer. When you read about someone who isn’t satisfied with their life as it is, who wants to get out there and see the world, or who yearns for more than a “normal life,” then you’re reading about an Explorer.
  3. Apr 2, 2024 · Learn what character archetypes are, how they differ from stereotypes, and how to use them in your fiction writing. Explore 14 common archetypes with examples and tips to write them well.

  4. Character archetypes serve as valuable assets in your novel or screenwriting. They allow you to construct, question, or challenge readers’ assumptions. When handled skillfully, they enhance the overall reading experience. Let’s talk about the primary character archetypes in fiction and how to employ them effectively.

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