"Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for."
--Kurt Vonnegut, Rule #2 of Creative Writing
Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, Berkeley Books, 1999. p. 13.
On the characters page, I discussed how important it is to develop specific characters with unique traits and names that will suit the specific plot and stick in the mind of a reader. Yet good authors also can make these characters familiar.
Take Superman. Superman is very specific: His true name is Kal-El and his parents were the Kryptonian scientists Jor-El and Lara. When Krypton was dying, Jor-El and Lara sent baby Kal-El in a rocket to find a new home; Kal-El crash landed on a farm in Smallville, Kansas, where he was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent and renamed Clark Kent. In high school, Clark developed superhuman abilities due to the effects of Earth's yellow sun, and spent these years between spending time with his friends Lana Lang and Pete Ross and fighting crime in the future with the Legion of Superheroes. Upon graduation, Clark followed his old school friend and rival Lex Luthor to Metropolis; while Clark became a reporter at the Daily Planet newspaper, befriending reporter Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen, Lex used an insurance claim from his father's death (at his hands) to fund a billion-dollar tech and real estate firm. While Clark's participation in Daily Planet exposes puts him in conflict with Lex, his activities as Superman, Metropolis crimefighter and founder of the Justice League, causes a xenophobic Lex to pursue insane power schemes to put an end to Superman's existence. Over years of fighting for truth and justice, Superman makes many more allies and friends, eventually marrying Lois and having a son named Jon.
That's a lot of detail, including detail that many people don't know. But what else do we know about Superman? He always does what's right. He never lies or breaks his word. He has incredible powers but uses them for good. He believes in the best of people. He is humble and would never harm anyone if he could help it. He always saves the day and is willing to sacrifice his life to do so. While the qualities of the above paragraph are only qualities of Superman, these qualities are shared by many characters: Batman, Luke Skywalker, Heracles, Harry Potter, Don Quixote, King Arthur, Hope Leslie, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and Sherlock Holmes. These are the qualities, one would say, of a hero.
This is an example of an archetype . An archetype is a primal character, place, or object that appears in all stories and has a universally recognized set of values. Archetypes are innate to stories and are actually passed on through our genetic code, according to Carl Jung. Taking three-dimensional characters and aligning them with archetypes helps a reader automatically relate to a character more. Think of archetypes as mental shortcuts. Say I introduce to you the character of One-Punch Man and all I tell you is that he is a hero; based on that information, you can automatically assume he does what is right, defends others from harm, and has powers greater than other people. Below are the most common archetypes found in stories.
Take Superman. Superman is very specific: His true name is Kal-El and his parents were the Kryptonian scientists Jor-El and Lara. When Krypton was dying, Jor-El and Lara sent baby Kal-El in a rocket to find a new home; Kal-El crash landed on a farm in Smallville, Kansas, where he was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent and renamed Clark Kent. In high school, Clark developed superhuman abilities due to the effects of Earth's yellow sun, and spent these years between spending time with his friends Lana Lang and Pete Ross and fighting crime in the future with the Legion of Superheroes. Upon graduation, Clark followed his old school friend and rival Lex Luthor to Metropolis; while Clark became a reporter at the Daily Planet newspaper, befriending reporter Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen, Lex used an insurance claim from his father's death (at his hands) to fund a billion-dollar tech and real estate firm. While Clark's participation in Daily Planet exposes puts him in conflict with Lex, his activities as Superman, Metropolis crimefighter and founder of the Justice League, causes a xenophobic Lex to pursue insane power schemes to put an end to Superman's existence. Over years of fighting for truth and justice, Superman makes many more allies and friends, eventually marrying Lois and having a son named Jon.
That's a lot of detail, including detail that many people don't know. But what else do we know about Superman? He always does what's right. He never lies or breaks his word. He has incredible powers but uses them for good. He believes in the best of people. He is humble and would never harm anyone if he could help it. He always saves the day and is willing to sacrifice his life to do so. While the qualities of the above paragraph are only qualities of Superman, these qualities are shared by many characters: Batman, Luke Skywalker, Heracles, Harry Potter, Don Quixote, King Arthur, Hope Leslie, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and Sherlock Holmes. These are the qualities, one would say, of a hero.
This is an example of an archetype . An archetype is a primal character, place, or object that appears in all stories and has a universally recognized set of values. Archetypes are innate to stories and are actually passed on through our genetic code, according to Carl Jung. Taking three-dimensional characters and aligning them with archetypes helps a reader automatically relate to a character more. Think of archetypes as mental shortcuts. Say I introduce to you the character of One-Punch Man and all I tell you is that he is a hero; based on that information, you can automatically assume he does what is right, defends others from harm, and has powers greater than other people. Below are the most common archetypes found in stories.
Superman saves a little boy (Darwyn Cooke, Action Comics)
HEROES
THE WILLING HERO: Volunteers to repair the broken society he or she calls home
Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, King Arthur in the Arthurian legends, Harry Potter in Harry Potter
THE RELUCTANT HERO: Forced against his or her will to repair the broken society
Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, Han Solo in Star Wars, Shrek in Shrek
THE INGENUE: The virginal young woman who is naïve about the world
Snow White in Snow White at the Seven Dwarfs, Ophelia in Hamlet, Hope Leslie in Hope Leslie
THE ORPHAN: The hero who must overcome loss of parents
Bruce Wayne in Batman, Harry Potter, Moses in The Bible
THE CAPTIVE: The hero imprisoned yet innocent of the crime
Eustache Dauger in The Man in Iron Mask, Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
THE MARTYR: The hero who sacrifices himself or herself for their society
Magawisca in Hope Leslie, Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jesus in The Bible
Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, King Arthur in the Arthurian legends, Harry Potter in Harry Potter
THE RELUCTANT HERO: Forced against his or her will to repair the broken society
Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, Han Solo in Star Wars, Shrek in Shrek
THE INGENUE: The virginal young woman who is naïve about the world
Snow White in Snow White at the Seven Dwarfs, Ophelia in Hamlet, Hope Leslie in Hope Leslie
THE ORPHAN: The hero who must overcome loss of parents
Bruce Wayne in Batman, Harry Potter, Moses in The Bible
THE CAPTIVE: The hero imprisoned yet innocent of the crime
Eustache Dauger in The Man in Iron Mask, Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
THE MARTYR: The hero who sacrifices himself or herself for their society
Magawisca in Hope Leslie, Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jesus in The Bible
Ma and Pa Kent (Frank Quitely, All-Star Superman)
BENEFACTORS
THE SAGE: Wise scholar who teaches the hero how to be a hero
Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter, Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars
THE LOVING MOTHER: A mother who nurtures and sacrifices for her child
Ma Kent in Superman, Molly Weasley in Harry Potter
THE DEVOURING MOTHER: A mother who tries to kill or enslave her child
Cinderella’s stepmother in Cinderella, Mrs. Havasham in Great Expectations, the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland
THE KING: Rightful ruler to whom the hero pledges fidelity
King Arthur in Arthurian legend, God in The Bible, the Fisher King
THE EMPRESS: Beautiful queen who blesses the hero and his or her cause
Moonchild in The Neverending Story, Princess Celestia in My Little Pony
THE HERMIT: Wise, breaks his solitude only to help the hero
Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, The Once-Ler in The Lorax
Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter, Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars
THE LOVING MOTHER: A mother who nurtures and sacrifices for her child
Ma Kent in Superman, Molly Weasley in Harry Potter
THE DEVOURING MOTHER: A mother who tries to kill or enslave her child
Cinderella’s stepmother in Cinderella, Mrs. Havasham in Great Expectations, the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland
THE KING: Rightful ruler to whom the hero pledges fidelity
King Arthur in Arthurian legend, God in The Bible, the Fisher King
THE EMPRESS: Beautiful queen who blesses the hero and his or her cause
Moonchild in The Neverending Story, Princess Celestia in My Little Pony
THE HERMIT: Wise, breaks his solitude only to help the hero
Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, The Once-Ler in The Lorax
Staff of the Daily Planet (Jamal Igle & Jon Sibal, DC Comics)
COMPANIONS
THE DOG: Animal companion that acts as the hero’s loyal companion or steed
Argos in The Odyssey, Rocinante in Don Quixote, Babe the Blue Ox in Paul Bunyan
THE CLOWN (FOOL): Forced against his or her will to repair the broken society
Sancho Panza in Don Quixote, Touchstone in As You Like It, Donkey in Shrek
THE REDEEMED PRISONER: A criminal who has turned to good
Catwoman in Batman, Hannibal Lecter is The Silence of the Lambs
THE STRONGMAN: Completes impossible feats of strength, speed, or agility
Heracles in Greek myths, Fezzik in The Princess Bride, Chewbacca in Star Wars
THE WARRIOR: Able to fight but only for honorable purposes
Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, Lancelot in the Arthurian legends
THE EXPERT: Peer of the hero, full of facts but not wisdom, master of wit
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, C3PO in Star Wars, Cornelius in Planet of the Apes
THE LOVERS: A pair in love who help the hero or may be the hero
Cardino in Don Quixote, Lupin and Tonks in Harry Potter
THE TEMPTRESS: Woman who loves hero and tries to lead him off the path of good
Talia al Ghul in Batman, Calypso in The Odyssey, Estella in Great Expectations
THE GOLEM: A manmade creature that seeks its own humanity
Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein, The Mountain in Game of Thrones, Bender in Futurama
THE SPIRIT: A ghost that guides the hero through dreams or apparition
Hamlet’s Father in Hamlet, Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw, the Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones
THE MAGICIAN: Helps the hero through supernatural means
Merlin in the Arthurian legends, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, Twilight Sparkle in My Little Pony
THE FOX (TRICKSTER): is deceitful and steals, but (usually) serves good
Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Anansi in African myth, Renyard in Greek myths
Argos in The Odyssey, Rocinante in Don Quixote, Babe the Blue Ox in Paul Bunyan
THE CLOWN (FOOL): Forced against his or her will to repair the broken society
Sancho Panza in Don Quixote, Touchstone in As You Like It, Donkey in Shrek
THE REDEEMED PRISONER: A criminal who has turned to good
Catwoman in Batman, Hannibal Lecter is The Silence of the Lambs
THE STRONGMAN: Completes impossible feats of strength, speed, or agility
Heracles in Greek myths, Fezzik in The Princess Bride, Chewbacca in Star Wars
THE WARRIOR: Able to fight but only for honorable purposes
Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, Lancelot in the Arthurian legends
THE EXPERT: Peer of the hero, full of facts but not wisdom, master of wit
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, C3PO in Star Wars, Cornelius in Planet of the Apes
THE LOVERS: A pair in love who help the hero or may be the hero
Cardino in Don Quixote, Lupin and Tonks in Harry Potter
THE TEMPTRESS: Woman who loves hero and tries to lead him off the path of good
Talia al Ghul in Batman, Calypso in The Odyssey, Estella in Great Expectations
THE GOLEM: A manmade creature that seeks its own humanity
Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein, The Mountain in Game of Thrones, Bender in Futurama
THE SPIRIT: A ghost that guides the hero through dreams or apparition
Hamlet’s Father in Hamlet, Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw, the Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones
THE MAGICIAN: Helps the hero through supernatural means
Merlin in the Arthurian legends, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, Twilight Sparkle in My Little Pony
THE FOX (TRICKSTER): is deceitful and steals, but (usually) serves good
Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Anansi in African myth, Renyard in Greek myths
Lex Luthor (Lee Bermejo, Lex Luthor: Man of Steel #2)
VILLAINS
THE DEVIL: Opposes the hero and desires for society to be broken to his will
Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, Darkseid in Superman, Sauron in Lord of the Rings
THE SYCOPHANT: Companion to the devil, serving him out of weakness
Darth Vader in Star Wars, Desaad in Superman, Wormtail in Harry Potter
THE MONSTER: A mix of man and animal that is an abomination of nature
Grendel in Beowulf, Caliban in The Tempest, Cyclops in The Odyssey
THE BETRAYER: A companion who betrays the hero’s trust
Judas in The Bible, George Wickham in Pride and Prejudice, Lando Calrissian in Star Wars
THE SHADOW: The hero’s double, who serves evil instead of good
Charles Darnay in A Tale of Two Cities, Bizarro in Superman, Kylo Ren in Star Wars
THE WOLF: Opposite of the dog, an animal that only serves its hunger
Chardybdis in The Odyssey, Sher Khan is The Jungle Book, Maugrim in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
THE DRAGON: a creature motivated by greed and intellectual games/deceit
Smaug in The Hobbit, the Sphinx in Oedipus Rex, Hades in Greek myth
Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, Darkseid in Superman, Sauron in Lord of the Rings
THE SYCOPHANT: Companion to the devil, serving him out of weakness
Darth Vader in Star Wars, Desaad in Superman, Wormtail in Harry Potter
THE MONSTER: A mix of man and animal that is an abomination of nature
Grendel in Beowulf, Caliban in The Tempest, Cyclops in The Odyssey
THE BETRAYER: A companion who betrays the hero’s trust
Judas in The Bible, George Wickham in Pride and Prejudice, Lando Calrissian in Star Wars
THE SHADOW: The hero’s double, who serves evil instead of good
Charles Darnay in A Tale of Two Cities, Bizarro in Superman, Kylo Ren in Star Wars
THE WOLF: Opposite of the dog, an animal that only serves its hunger
Chardybdis in The Odyssey, Sher Khan is The Jungle Book, Maugrim in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
THE DRAGON: a creature motivated by greed and intellectual games/deceit
Smaug in The Hobbit, the Sphinx in Oedipus Rex, Hades in Greek myth
Superman's Fortress of Solitude (Tony Daniel, DC Comics)
PLACES
THE HEARTH: The warm home where all are welcome and safe
The Shire in The Lord of the Rings, the Weasley house in Harry Potter, Winterfell in Game of Thrones
THE FOREST: Unknown/unmapped world where the hero must venture
Endor in Star Wars, Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings, the North in Game of Thrones
THE DESERT: A wasteland where nothing grows and the hero struggles to survive
Hoth in Star Wars, the Forbidden Zone in Planet of the Apes, Dorne in Game of Thrones
THE SHIP: Transports heroes; well-loved but not always reliable
Argo in Greek myth, Millennium Falcon in Star Wars
THE TEMPLE: place where the hero can find clarity and safety
Oracle at Delphi in Greek myths, Notre Dame in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
THE CAVE: Where the hero must face his or her own self-doubt
Namba Parbat in Batman, Chamber of Secrets in Harry Potter
THE TOWER: The stronghold where the devil dwells
Mordor in The Lord of the Rings, Bowser’s castle in Super Mario
The Shire in The Lord of the Rings, the Weasley house in Harry Potter, Winterfell in Game of Thrones
THE FOREST: Unknown/unmapped world where the hero must venture
Endor in Star Wars, Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings, the North in Game of Thrones
THE DESERT: A wasteland where nothing grows and the hero struggles to survive
Hoth in Star Wars, the Forbidden Zone in Planet of the Apes, Dorne in Game of Thrones
THE SHIP: Transports heroes; well-loved but not always reliable
Argo in Greek myth, Millennium Falcon in Star Wars
THE TEMPLE: place where the hero can find clarity and safety
Oracle at Delphi in Greek myths, Notre Dame in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
THE CAVE: Where the hero must face his or her own self-doubt
Namba Parbat in Batman, Chamber of Secrets in Harry Potter
THE TOWER: The stronghold where the devil dwells
Mordor in The Lord of the Rings, Bowser’s castle in Super Mario
Kryptonite (Ed Hannigan, The Adventures Of Superman #479)
OBJECTS
THE SWORD: The hero’s magic weapon that can defeat any enemies
Excalibur in the Arthurian legends, lightsabers in Star Wars, Batman’s utility belt
THE PEARL: What the hero seeks, as it will fix the broken society
Golden fleece in Greek myth, magic lamp in Arabian Nights
THE APPLE: A tempting object that will bring tragedy to a hero
Snow White's apple, Eve's apple, monkey's paw in "The Monkey's Paw"
THE CHEST: A box containing a mysterious object/force a hero must decide to open
Pandora's jar and Psyche's box in Greek myth, Obi-Wan's chest in Star Wars
THE CAULDRON: An object that, when eaten or eaten from, can cure illness or death
Holy Grail in Arthurian legend, Chihiro's dumpling in Spirited Away, Fisher King's stew
THE BURDEN: A cursed object a hero must keep from evil or wear for repentance
Sauron's ring in The Lord of the Rings, albatross in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", scarlet letter in The Scarlet Letter
Excalibur in the Arthurian legends, lightsabers in Star Wars, Batman’s utility belt
THE PEARL: What the hero seeks, as it will fix the broken society
Golden fleece in Greek myth, magic lamp in Arabian Nights
THE APPLE: A tempting object that will bring tragedy to a hero
Snow White's apple, Eve's apple, monkey's paw in "The Monkey's Paw"
THE CHEST: A box containing a mysterious object/force a hero must decide to open
Pandora's jar and Psyche's box in Greek myth, Obi-Wan's chest in Star Wars
THE CAULDRON: An object that, when eaten or eaten from, can cure illness or death
Holy Grail in Arthurian legend, Chihiro's dumpling in Spirited Away, Fisher King's stew
THE BURDEN: A cursed object a hero must keep from evil or wear for repentance
Sauron's ring in The Lord of the Rings, albatross in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", scarlet letter in The Scarlet Letter