What are some archetypes (e.g. common character types) of fantasy fiction?

What are some archetypes (e.g. common character types) of fantasy fiction?

Archetypes are types of characters who appear repeatedly in literature, theater, and film. Writers have been using archetypes for many years much in the same way that we use genre today.

The Villain:

Villains are evil, selfish, sociopathic individuals who obstruct our hero’s path to greatness.

“To create a lovable villain you need to make them characters to whom people relate.” (Skinner, R.)

If a villain feels hard done by either by, society or certain life circumstances. Not only does that give the villain to have an understandable reason for their evil behavior but they will have a fuel for their actions and that will allow the reader to feel a sense of sympathy towards their plight. In most villain cases they will have at least one character trait that a reader/viewer to relate to.

An author has the ability to give their villain all the dreadful determination that in everyday life, we keep a hold of inside. When rage rises it is an ugly presence that we can wish evil upon someone. We as humans are reasonable enough to refrain from carrying out those wishes but for a villain it is a time to seek revenge and satisfaction.

“When the villain takes payback and revenge too far, when they fail to keep within limits of behavior that are reasonable, that’s when their behavior becomes villainous and dastardly” (Skinner, R.)

Another Archetype is The Hero:

“A Hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice their own needs on behalf of others.” (Vogler, C.)

Vogler states that true heroism is shown in stories or films when hero’s offer themselves willingly to take the risk, even if their quest for adventure may lead them to danger, loss or death. (p.39)

An author can incorporate aspects in a hero that we readers recognise ourselves; things like when a hero is challenged to overcome inner doubts, negative thinking, guilt or trauma from the past, or fear of the future. When a hero shows weaknesses, imperfections, quirks it can immediately make a hero or possibly any other character more appealing to an audience. The more neurotic a hero is, the more the audience connects with them. Intriguing them to read/ watch on.

In fantasy, after a hero proves there self, usually by either defeating a wild beast or completing a task the hero may become, in most cases; a king, night or warrior of the realm or village.

There are some obvious villain traits that Jasper shows to the audience in the Wizard of Earthsea film. I.e. he is clearly selfish believing that he has much more talent that Ged and Jasper also shows that his intentions are to obstruct Ged’s path to becoming a high class wizard.


"Fantasy is an exercise of what may be our most divine and certainly is our most human capacity, the imagination." (Ursula K.) 

A writer has the imagination to create a hero or villain in any way they like. They have the ability to show the magical world that is invented in their head and portray it through their characters. 

References

Bunting, J. (2012). Three Character Archetypes in Fiction - Helping Writers Become Authors. Helping Writers Become Authors. Retrieved 19 August 2015, from http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/three-character-archetypes-in-fiction/

Skinner, R. (2011). Seven Tips on Creating a Fantastic Fantasy Villain | Fantasy-Faction. Fantasy-faction.com. Retrieved 18 August 2015, from http://fantasy-faction.com/2011/seven-tips-on-fantasy-villains

Le Guin, U. (2005). Ursula K. Le Guin: Plausibility Revisited -- Wha Hoppen and What Didn't.Ursulakleguin.com. Retrieved 21 August 2015, from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityRevisited.html 

Vogler, C. (1992). The writer’s journey (pp. 39, 42, 43).