As humans, we have been telling stories for thousands of years, long before many of us could read and write. In fact, many fairy tales come from pre-literate societies. But that means that most stories have already been told in some form. These stories fall into one of seven storylines, or archetypes as they are called in literature. These are the quest, rags to riches, rebirth, overcoming the monster, comedy, tragedy, and voyage and return.
What Are Archetypes in Literature?
An archetype is a typical example of character type, storyline or event that is notably recurrent across human experience. Christopher Booker argues in his book The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories (2004) that ‘there are indeed a small number of plots which are so fundamental to the way we tell stories that is virtually impossible for any storyteller ever to break away from them’. In literature, they are used as a model that authors can follow. They create a sense of familiarity for readers because we are able to recognise these archetypes from our own lives.
An archetype is different from a stereotype. An archetype is a conscious or unconscious theme, idea or person, but a stereotype is a deliberate concept, idea or theme that degrades or denigrates a person or race. Stereotypes are based on assumptions and generalisations, while archetypes are deeply held cultural motifs.
The Seven Story Archetypes
The Quest
The protagonist sets out on a journey to reach a certain place, acquire a certain object or attain a certain objective. Along the way, they encounter many obstacles, many of which are nearly fatal. Ultimately, they will be successful.
Examples: The Odyssey by Homer, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Rags to Riches
At the beginning of your novel, your protagonist is poor and often shunned by society. By the end of your novel, they become rich and powerful. How they do this can be a sudden inheritance, a fairy godmother or nefarious, unexplained means. But the sudden fortune should come at a cost.
Examples: Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Rebirth
This archetype has its roots in religion but is now used in many genres. In contemporary fiction, your protagonist will start off as selfish and vain but will have an epiphany at the Climax that turns them into a better person.
Examples: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Beauty and the Beast
Overcoming the Monster
This is an archetype as old as time, with many classical stories adopting it. Your protagonist (nearly always a heroic character) must defeat an evil force to restore their world.
Examples: Dracula by Bram Stoker, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Jack and the Beanstalk
Comedy
Comedic stories typically revolve around confusion and misunderstandings that cause chaos. The events might not be ‘ha ha’ funny, but more like Shakespearean humour. The protagonist is rarely in grave danger.
Examples: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, Scoop by Evelyn Waugh, Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome
Tragedy
Tragedy is the opposite of comedy, where the protagonist is caught in a loop by a critical character flaw or fate. Very often, tragic stories end with a death or loss.
Examples: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Voyage and Return
In voyage and return stories, the protagonist or a group of protagonists travel out of their world into a completely different world. This is what differentiates it from the quest.
Examples: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum, The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Why Are Archetypes Important?
Archetypes can be very helpful for authors because they create ideas and starting points for characters and plot and are a means to repurpose mythical elements for a story. They provide a sense of familiarity for readers. But be careful because, if used incorrectly, they can feel restrictive and limit your creativity.
Comments