Character Archetypes
This character faces challenges while pursuing a goal and often grows as a result of the journey.
What is the Hero?
A character searches for a person, place, object, knowledge, or achievement.
What is The Quest?
This archetype represents something valued or sought—and it doesn't have to be money or an object.
What is Treasure?
A character arrives at a place representing a major choice, transition, or decision.
What is the Crossroads?
A young athlete has natural talent but needs an experienced former champion to train him, challenge him, and prepare him for his biggest competition.
Who is the Mentor?
This character guides, teaches, challenges, equips, or encourages another character.
What is the Mentor?
A character faces a challenge requiring them to prove courage, wisdom, loyalty, strength, or worthiness.
What is The Test/Trial?
These opposites may represent knowledge or hope versus ignorance or fear, although an author can reverse those associations.
What are Light/Dark?
This place may represent belonging, identity, origins, or security.
What is Home?
A ruler is responsible for keeping peace in a kingdom and protecting its people, but gradually begins using that authority for personal gain.
Hint: 2 archetypes
What is the King/Ruler turning into Shadow?
This character supports the hero through loyalty, perspective, practical help, or even humor.
What is the Companion/Sidekick?
A character moves into a new stage of identity, knowledge, or responsibility.
What is The Initiation?
This may represent life, cleansing, rebirth, transformation—or even danger.
What is Water?
Characters leave civilization and enter a dangerous, unknown place where they are tested and changed.
What is The Wilderness?
A character is offered everything she has ever wanted, but accepting the offer would require betraying the people she loves.
What is Temptation?
This character disrupts order, breaks rules, and may use wit or deception to expose the weaknesses or foolishness of others.
What is the Trickster?
A once-powerful character loses status, innocence, power, morality, or greatness.
What is The Fall?
Spring may suggest rebirth, while winter may suggest death or dormancy.
What are Seasons?
This place may symbolize destruction, sterility, spiritual emptiness, or the loss of vitality and order.
What is the Wasteland?
A character travels hundreds of miles searching for her missing brother. During the trip, she becomes more independent and discovers what she is capable of. 2 patterns required!
What are The Quest AND The Journey?
A character prevents the hero from advancing until the hero passes a test, overcomes an obstacle, or proves readiness. The character isn't necessarily evil.
What is the Threshold Guardian?
After experiencing a literal or figurative "death," a character emerges renewed or fundamentally transformed.
What is Death & Rebirth?
A character desperately seeks freedom from an oppressive society. Although freedom can't be held in the character's hands, it could still function as this symbolic archetype.
What is Treasure?
In a dangerous world, a community gathers in one protected location where they preserve their people, traditions, and safety.
What is a Sanctuary?
A villain offers the hero unlimited power if the hero abandons his principles. Identify the character archetype represented by the villain AND the situational archetype represented by the offer.
2 patterns required!
What are Shadow and Temptation?