Character Archtypes Flashcards
Unmarried and usually disenfranchised. Always the underdog and unacceptable to general society, but his moral center is strong and admirable. He is not innocent, but he recognizes and seeks to protect it in others
Bad Boy
In some way emasculates her husband - intentionally or otherwise - found throughout Western literature but in the Post-Modern era, the become more sympathetic
Cold Wife
A character who belongs to a past time or generation due to moral values, social, norms, or religious beliefs
Antiquated Character
A character who, for one reason or another, is unable to practice her need to create or think freely for reason that usually have to do with social mores and codes, mores or codes she might even put in herself. She frequently comes into conflict with the society around herself and the repression often leads to madness of destruction. There will be a deterioration of some kind unless she decides to disassociate from society completely which may be the catalyst for a journey
Frustrated Artist/ Intellect
The entity that the bad boy must overcome. In early literature literally a man but later could be represented by a group corporation or machine
Bad Man
Usually red haired and posses some derivative of the name “Mary Jane”, this person is innocent and trusting, which often makes her a mark for the unscrupulous. She is what the bad boy will seek to protect, but she is no shrinking violet. She is more than willing to participate in her own protection. The bad boy will seek to protect her even against himself if necessary.
Good Girl
Foil to the bad man, this person usually teaches the bad boy how to be a good man. Usually this person is NOT from the same social class as the bad boy but is able to speak in a language the bad boy is able to understand. Later, the lost generation authors may turn them into questionable influence
Mentor
Does all or some of the following
1. bring others truth or knowledge (often associated with light)
2. makes others aware of beauty
3. have some power over life and death
4. act as confessors
5. grant absolution
Prophet
Does everything a prophet might do and sacrifices themself for the good of the group
Christ
- Everyman, an ordinary guy living an ordinary life
- Suddenly, by choice or chance, is pulled out of his ordinary life or chooses to leave his life to launch into a great adventure
- Journeys into a dark world where he meets forces of entities he must deal with
- Encounters teacher who give him instruction in new skills he needs to achieve his goal
- Becomes very aware what his specific goals are
- Is challenged to his limit, reaching a culminating experience, what Campbell calls “the supreme ordeal”
- Gains his reward and is forever changed by the experience
- Gains new powers and sets off with them
Eventually reconnects with his society and uses these new powers to restore his community in some way
Epic Hero
The ________ or his story (always a male in Greek tragedy and much of literature) must:
1. Be noble (in Western Literature) / he must be noble in nature (in American Literature)
2. Be doomed from the start and his decline inevitable
3. Suffer
4. Arouse fear and pity
5. Have free choice to some degree
6. His decline must result from a tragic flaw (this is usually but not always the hubris)
Tragic Hero
After Twain, usually female and usually single and hasn’t “kept up with the times”. She usually labors under antiquated notions of education, faith; social norms, and values. She doesn’t listen to youth, only talks at them. She teacher what to believe not what to question
Disaffected Teacher
Always characterized as the cold intellect. He is usually associated with cold colors or season. His heart and morality are cold and dead, but his intellect is unusually keen; as a matter of fact, the protagonist has trouble because the romantic villain is always one step ahead. He is usually seeking revenge or trying to retain power, doing so by first appearing publicly benevolent, but his intentions are always malevolent. He will frequently appear to be friends with the people he is against and is ever tikal destroyed by his desire for revenge.
Romantic Villian
