Archetypes and Prototype Violations: The Secret Sauce of Fantasy Storytelling

What is an archetype? Merriam-Webster gives three definitions:

1. The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations.
2. A perfect example of something.
3. In Jungian psychology, an inherited idea or mode of thought present in the collective unconscious.

For our purposes, the last definition is the most useful for writers. Carl Jung, a psychologist who split from Sigmund Freud, believed that archetypes are universal patterns in human storytelling. They showcase motifs that appear across cultures and reflect shared human experiences.

Even if you don’t buy into all of Jung’s psychology, the idea of recurring archetypal figures is powerful for writers. Across cultures, anthropologists consistently see specific patterns: Creation myths, End Times stories, the Savior, the Trickster, and so on. These aren’t clichés—they are structural patterns baked into the human psyche.

Key Archetypes Every Fantasy Story Uses

Here’s a quick tour of the archetypes that show up everywhere, with pop culture examples you’ll instantly recognize:

1. The Hero
Leaves home, faces trials, returns changed.

• Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
• Mulan (Mulan)
• Rand al’Thor (The Wheel of Time)

2. The Shadow
Embodies the dark side society fears. The hero frequently dreads becoming this.

• Darth Vader (Star Wars)
• Voldemort (Harry Potter)
• Vecna (Stranger Things)

3. The Wise Figure
Mentor, sage, guide, or magical helper.

• Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)
• Yoda (Star Wars)
• Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

4. The Trickster
Boundary-breaker who shakes things up and forces change.

• Loki (Norse mythology)
• Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
• Gollum (The Lord of the Rings)

5. The Mother
Not just a literal parent. They represent themes of care, nourishment, and creation.

• Gaia (Greek mythology)
• Galadriel (The Lord of the Rings)
• Sarah Connor (Terminator)

6. The Father / Ruler
Authority, structure, and protection.

• Mufasa (The Lion King)
• King Arthur (Excalibur)
• Odin (Norse Mythology)

7. The Child
Symbol of potential, renewal, and vulnerability.

• Grogu (The Mandalorian)
• Ender Wiggin (Ender’s Game)
• Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)
• Mowgli (The Jungle Book)

8. The Great Enemy / Chaos
Represents disorder, entropy, or existential threat.

• Smaug (The Hobbit)
• White Walkers (Game of Thrones)
• Cthulhu (H. P. Lovecraft)
• The Nothing (The NeverEnding Story)

These archetypes resonate across cultures because humans face the same core fears, drives, and life passages. Tapping into them lets writers hit readers at a deep, intuitive level.

Why Archetypes Matter for Fantasy Writers

1. Instant recognition: Archetypes give readers a quick handle on a character’s role, motivation, or threat.
2. Emotional resonance: They tap into universal fears and desires, making stories feel meaningful beyond surface-level plot.
3. Story structure: Archetypes naturally fit into the Hero’s Journey, the battle between order and chaos, and other classic narrative frameworks.

Quick Thought Experiment: The Robin Effect

Close your eyes and think of a bird. (I’m not sure how you’re reading the rest of this article while your eyes are closed, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out). Odds are you imagined a robin, eagle, or blue jay—not a penguin or an ostrich. If you did think of a penguin first, you probably work at the zoo. You should also examine your life choices and get psychological help.

Anyway, back to our thought exercise. Most people think of a robin because that’s the power of a prototype: we have mental templates for what things “should” be. The further we deviate from the prototype, the more difficult it is to fathom without using imagination.

Prototype Violations: Keeping Fantasy Fresh

If a story only delivers standard “prototypes,” it risks boring the audience. Readers have expectations: if you say “zombie,” most imagine a slow, shambling corpse. That prototype is safe, but not scary. The audience comes in with prototypes. Deliver what they expect, and it’s safe but forgettable. Violate it, and you create tension, fear, or awe. A good writer makes the audience feel something visceral.

To shock, terrify, or intrigue, writers need prototype violations. Take familiar elements and twist them in unexpected ways. The best fantasy storytelling thrives on violations of prototypes.

• Zombies: In World War Z and 28 Years Later, zombies aren’t slow shambling mounds. They became fast, strong, and ridiculously numerous, upping the stakes. Some even became capable of primal thoughts.
• Vegetation: When we think about vegetation that can be dangerous, we can’t think of something as simple as unwashed salad. Instead of harmless plants, writers create treants, ambulating giant Venus flytraps, or myconid colonies.
• Eyeballs: A simple eyeball is mundane. A beholder in Dungeons & Dragons violates that prototype with multiple eyestalks, a massive mouth, and deadly magical powers.

Prototype violations can apply to anything: monsters, heroes, allies, or even everyday objects. The goal is to break reader expectations while staying internally consistent in your world.

Pair archetypes with prototype violations, and you’ve got a story that feels familiar and unpredictable, which forms a combination readers love.

Takeaway for Writers

• Use archetypes as a foundation—they’re reliable patterns that speak to deep human psychology.
• Twist prototypes to challenge expectations—this is where your creativity shines.
• Think about enemies, allies, and everyday objects as opportunities to surprise your audience.

• Prototype violations often make protagonists and antagonists memorable.

Master archetypes and prototype violations, and your fantasy world will feel alive, resonant, and thrilling, even when readers think they’ve seen it all. So, if a writer masters archetypes and prototype violations, then they can make great heroes and villains, right? Heroes and villains are next week’s topic. Stay tuned!