literary archetypes
Recurring story patterns
Literary archetypes are recurring character types, symbols, or narrative patterns that appear across stories and cultures.
The hero's journey, the wise mentor, the trickster, the innocent—these figures and structures repeat because they tap into shared human psychology.
Jung proposed that archetypes emerge from a collective unconscious; literary critics use the term more loosely for any stock pattern: The detective is an archetype of rational order, She recognized the shadow archetype in the villain.
- loverRomantic intimate
- star-crossed loversCouple doomed by destiny
- damsel in distressWoman needing rescue
- explorerOne who investigates unfamiliar regions
- heroOne admired for courage
tragic hero · chosen one · good vs. evil · mentor · wise old man · caregiver · villain · femme fatale · dark horse · fallen angel · innocent · trickster · coming-of-age · allegory · rebel · ruler · shapeshifter · shadow