ARCHETYPEHEROES EDITION

NEWT SCAMANDERReinventing Masculinity in the Harry Potter Universe

A Riley Turner Publication

Archetypes from the Classic and Modern Eras

Inside...

Anakin SkywalkerVillain or Tragic Hero?

The Skeptic and The BelieverDiscussing the Apollonian and Dionysian Dichotomies

Are Podcasts the New Mainstream Storytelling Medium? The Adventure Zone s Griffin McElroy and Nightvale s Cecil Baldwin Share Their Thoughts

Heracles/HerculesGreek/Roman Mythology

GastonBeauty and the Beast

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

ThorMARVEL comics, Norse Mythology

THE WARRIOR Say it again, who's a man among men?

DESCRIPTIONHe s hot, he s powerful, he s hypermasculine! Meet the Warrior. He s usually a straight white man with a talent for combat. He is most prominently featured in mythology, seen going on quests and fighting monsters for fame and glory. He is often very well liked by his community; the women want to be with him, and the men want to be him. He starts his journey as an outgoing, volatile source of power and energy, but after training with a mentor of some sort, he is able to control his power and face whatever his ultimate challenge is. He is either able to complete the challenge, or dies trying.

FATAL FLAWSBecause the Warrior is so powerful, he often lets his talent and accomplishments get to his head. His complacency can lead to his downfall. He is also aggressive; he finds violence much easier than diplomacy. The Warrior has to learn that he can t punch his way out of every situation. Lastly, he is usually something of a womanizer. An enchantress can easily slip past him because she is beautiful and he is full of lust.

W

All artwork original by Riley Turner

DESCRIPTIONHe s nobody special. He s an average guy who learned that he has some sort of magical power or ability, and is then launched into narrative he had no choice in joining. Meet the Ordinary Guy, also commonly known as the Chosen One. This character doesn t have a typical gender, but is usually a child or a teenager. This character has his destiny thrust upon him by some sort of inciting incident revealing the true nature of his world. This character is meant to represent the audience. The Ordinary Guy archetype is common because he is relatable and often shares the reactions that a real person would have. He is the way we are able to live out our fantasies of being taken on a magical quest.

FATAL FLAWSThe Ordinary Guy is often very empathetic and can have somewhat of a savior complex. Because he is a normal person, when he sees others suffering, he does anything to make it right. He can also become manipulative due to his discovery that he is the Chosen One and decide that he is better than others. He can become selfish and narcissistic.

Peter ParkerSpiderman

Harry PotterHarry Potter series

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Clary FrayShadowhunters

THE ORDINARY GUY I didn t ask for any of this.

All artwork original by Riley Turner

Katniss EverdeenThe Hunger Games

EnjolrasLes Miserables

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Alexander HamiltonHamilton: An American

Musical

THE LEADER I speak for the people.

DESCRIPTIONIn contrast to the Ordinary Guy archetype, this hero seeks out their own destiny. Meet the Leader. This archetype does not have a specific gender, but is usually a young person belonging to some sort of minority, whether it be gender, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic class. The leader has a goal and actively pursues it instead of being told one day that they are part of a bigger narrative. They are often passionate and empathetic figureheads of revolution. They speak for those being oppressed and are charismatic and selfless.

FATAL FLAWSDue to their empathy and driven nature, the Leader is willing to die for her cause. She is always willing to do what she thinks is best for others, not necessarily herself. The Leader can also become so involved in the cause and working up the ladder that she becomes the very thing oppressing people (you either die a hero or live long enough to watch yourself become the villain, as the old adage goes). The Leader is also capable of getting lost in her work towards a brighter future that she completely neglects her personal friendships and relationships in order to achieve her goal.

All artwork original by Riley Turner

DESCRIPTIONShe s an edgy outcast with unconventional hair. Meet the Rebel. This character is typically exclusively female and exists to provide a contrast to the boring male protagonist. She is often the opposite of what is considered traditional femininity , whether that be wearing all black or never wearing makeup. She is usually daring and thrill seeking, dragging the protagonist along with her to make him more adventurous. She is somewhat mysterious and gets into a lot of trouble. She often has the potential to be an interesting and likeable character, but because she is often putting a divide between her and other girls, it makes it seem that traditional femininity is something to be looked down upon. This is an archetype most commonly seen in modern media such as movies, comic books, and video games.

FATAL FLAWSThe Rebel is often breaking rules to cover up some sort of emotional pain that is addressed later on in the adventure. She is also very emotionally connected to the protagonist, even if she tries not to be. Because of this inner conflict, she can become angry or reserved, lashing out and getting herself into perilous situations.

Ramona FlowersScott Pilgrim vs. the World

Chloe PriceLife is Strange

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

That Girl from the Emoji Movie

The Emoji Movie

THE REBEL I m not like other girls.

All artwork original by Riley Turner

DESCRIPTIONThe Bookworm is often a supporting character, yet she is just as important as the main role. She is usually an incredibly smart girl who has a close platonic relationship with the main character. She is not considered conventionally attractive. She is the brains behind every operation and provides wisdom and insight to the main character. She balances the group and avoids conflict. By the end of the story, she is either still a close friend of the main character, or the main character realizes that she was the girl he had been looking for all along (not after altering her appearance, though, whether it be taking off her glasses or wearing a dress).

FATAL FLAWSThe Bookworm s personality can range from being meek and shy to outgoing and eager. Despite this, she often has some sort of insecurity regarding her worth and usefulness to the protagonist because she may not be as skilled in combat or social interactions. She may also be rigid and uptight, not willing to change her opinions on things easily. With the help of the protagonist, she becomes more open minded.

Layla WilliamsSky High

Hermione GrangerHarry Potter series

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Michael MellBe More Chill

THE BOOKWORM And she was right in front of me the entire time.

All artwork original by Riley Turner

Agent Peggy CarterAgent Carter, Captain

America: The First Avenger

MulanMulan

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

Diana PrinceWonder Woman

THE INDEPENDENT WOMAN I don t need no man! DESCRIPTIONIt s a bird! It s a plane! It s the Independent Woman! The Independent Woman archetype is most common in comic books, movies, and TV shows. She is the main character of a series and the coolest person on planet earth (or whatever planet she calls home). She is powerful and commands respect, but often cannot gain respect until proving herself to her male counterparts. She often has to fight both crime and the misogyny and preconceptions of the men around her. She is tough, beautiful, and determined; a combination of traits that is usually very intimidating and makes the men in her story either scared of her or attracted to her. She doesn t need a male love interest, but she gets one anyway.

FATAL FLAWSThe Independent Woman is another very empathetic character. Because she is female, she is also considered inherently gentle and kind. This, however, can be her weakness. She loves the people around her but believes she must isolate herself from them so they don t get hurt. Her flaws are also what shape her as a character and give her depth, something not often granted to female characters in modern media.

All artwork original by Riley Turner

DESCRIPTIONThe Tortured Soul archetype is often a man with a tragic backstory and a questionable state of mental health. He was once a proud and honorable person, but he became unstable, usually due to outside forces or circumstances, whether it be the death of a friend, brainwashing, or torture. The causes of his grief may be psychological or physical and have various detrimental effects. He tends to isolate himself or is isolated by the forces working against him. He can either have been a kind person or an antihero at the beginning of the story, but by the end he is suffering because of his state of mind. All in all, these characters deserve better.

FATAL FLAWSThe Tortured Soul is often an extremely flawed character. Because characters in this archetype are often forced to make hard decisions with treacherous outcomes, their belief that they are doing the right thing often leads to their downfalls.

Dorian GrayThe Picture of Dorian Gray

Marcus BrutusJulius Caesar

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

James Buchanan BarnesCaptain America series

THE TORTURED SOUL I didn t mean for this to happen.

All artwork original by Riley Turner

Wade WilsonDeadpool

Veronica SawyerHeathers

FAMOUS EXAMPLES

HamletHamlet

THE ANTIHERO I guess.

DESCRIPTIONThe Antihero does not have a specific gender and age and ranges widely in personality. The defining aspect of an Antihero is that he is not immediately likeable, or is likeable for the wrong reasons. The Antihero often has questionable morals, from being somewhat mean spirited to committing crimes. He is sometimes spiteful and seeking vengeance. Despite these obvious villainous attributes, the Antihero is witty and well loved because he is framed as the protagonist. Whatever crimes or sins he is committing are justified because they are less evil than the antagonist s.

FATAL FLAWSBecause the Antihero is often disregarding the law, getting caught poses as a threat for him. He also may recognize that his actions are contemptible, and this can lead him to becoming the Tortured Soul archetype. The Antihero is often reckless and unforgiving, something that can also lead to problems in the future.

All artwork original by Riley Turner