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An archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. That is, it is a universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis. Archetypes help to add depth and underlying significance to some of the world's best literature.

Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that these archetypes were the result of a collective unconscious. This collective unconscious was not directly knowable and is a product of the shared experiences of our ancestors. Jung believed it was:

Primordial: That is, we, as individuals, have these archetypal images ingrained in our understanding even before we are born.

Universal: These archetypes can be found all over the world and throughout history. The manifestation of the idea may be different, but the idea itself is the same.

Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters, situations/symbols. It is easiest to understand them with the help of examples. Listed below are some of the most common archetypes in each category.

Characters:

The hero - The courageous figure, the one who's always running in and saving the day. Example: D'artagnon from Alexandre Dumas's "The Three Musketeers"

The outcast - The outcast is just that. He or she has been cast out of society or has left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can oftentimes also be considered as a Christ figure. Example: Simon from William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies"

The scapegoat - The scapegoat figure is the one who gets blamed for everything, regardless of whether he or she is actually at fault. Example: Snowball from George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

The star-crossed lovers - This is the young couple joined by love but unexpectedly parted by fate. Example: Romeo and Juliet from William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

The shrew - This is that nagging, bothersome wife always battering her husband with verbal abuse. Example: Zeena from Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome"

Situations/symbols:

The task - A situation in which a character, or group of characters, is driven to complete some duty of monstrous proportion. Example: Frodo's task to keep the ring safe in J. R. R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy

The quest - Here, the character(s) are searching for something, whether consciously or unconsciously. Their actions, thoughts, and feelings center around the goal of completing this quest. Example: Christian's quest for salvation in John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress"

The loss of innocence - This is, as the name implies, a loss of innocence through sexual experience, violence, or any other means. Example: Val's loss of innocence after settling down at the mercantile store in Tennessee William's "Orpheus Descending"

The initiation - This is the process by which a character is brought into another sphere of influence, usually (in literature) into adulthood. Example: Ayla's initiation both into the Clan and into adulthood in Jean Auel's "The Clan of the Cave Bear"

Water - Water is a symbol of life, cleansing, and rebirth. It is a strong life force, and is often depicted as a living, reasoning force. Example: Edna learns to swim in Kate Chopin's "The Awakening"

Archetypes in stories and in the world help people understand the type of person that you want to know about. In film when John Wayne appears on the screen you know generally what he is going to do. He is strong, honest and going to fight honestly, if needed. In school if someone says Bob is a nerd, that archetype creates expectations when we meet Bob socially.

In literature, archetypes tell both the writer and reader what to expect. When I start to write a novel the characters are much easier to explain to the reader because I use key words that the reader knows fit a specific archetype. If I didn't, it would take multiple paragraphs. For example, one character is the Captain of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. The reader immediately knows the captain is older, with short hair and is a serious peson.

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