Character Archetypes

==Character Archetypes - Do you need them?==
Now that we have defined a purpose, role, goals, and motives for your characters, it's time to move on to the finer details. These include personality, traits, skills, backstory, appearance, etc. But before we get there, we need to cover something else - archetypes. 
What is an archetype?
An archetype is basically a prototype of a basic type of character that frequently appears in literature, film, etc. We are not going to cover this topic too in-depth, as you technically don't have to use an archetype for your character. But it is helpful to know what they are and how they are used. 
One very important thing to note when using archetypes is to avoid making the character stereotypical or cliche. Making a stereotypical character is the antithesis of what we are trying to accomplish here: to make the character stand out. To make the character unique. 
So for this lesson, I've included a list of quick resources to get you spun up on the concept of archetypes. Once you've read them, complete the exercises at the end of this lesson. 
*Archetypal Characters: Your Literary Guide - Read this quick article on archetypes first. It explains what you need to know.
*8 1/2 Character Archetypes You Should Be Writing - Some predominant archetypes that will most likely appear in your stories. 
*The Twelve Common Archetypes - A list of the Jungian archetypes, which you should be aware of.
*List of Stock Characters - A Wikipedia list of stock characters. Give this a look, as it contains many stereotypical characters.
==Exercise 1: Character Archetype==
Does your character fit any of the archetypes you just read about? If so, what can you do to keep your character from being like every other character that has come before? How do you think picking an archetype will make things easier? How will it help or hinder your story? 
==Exercise 2: Favorite Character Archetype==
Do the same as the previous exercise for your favorite character.
Move on to the next section: Character Personality
Category:Creator Resources