An archetype is a universal, inherited pattern of thought, symbolic imagery, or character-type that appears across different cultures and time periods. The concept of an archetype appears in areas relating to behavior, historical psychology, and literary analysis. Archetypes can be any of the following: a statement, pattern of behavior, prototype, "first" form, or a main model that other statements, patterns of behavior, and objects copy, emulate, or "merge" into. In literature, archetypes are characters or symbols that are recognizable irrespective of their place or time of origin. There are three main categories of archetypes:
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Character Archetypes: The most common and important kind of archetypes. Most popular characters have a universal archetype such as Hero, Anti-Hero, or Trickster. There are literally hundreds of different character archetypes, including the Seductress, the Father and Mother Figures, the Mentor, and the Nightmare Creature.
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Situational Archetypes: These are situations that appear in stories from cultures around the world and symbolize something universal in the human experience. Examples include the Journey, the Quest, and the Battle between Good and Evil.
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Symbolic Archetypes: These are recurring symbols or motifs in literature that represent universal human experiences or themes. Examples include the Garden, the Tree, and the Circle.
Archetypes can help people understand each other and explain innate aspects of the human mind.
