What are archetypes?

Archetypes are like super common characters that show up again and again in stories, games, or even real life.

Imagine you have a box full of toys, some cars, some dolls, some blocks. Now think about the main types of toys in that box: maybe there's a fast red car, a brave knight doll, and a clever builder with blocks. These are like archetypes, they're not specific toys, but kinds of toys that show up in many different stories or games.

In stories, archetypes are like friends who have certain traits you can always count on. There's the hero who saves the day, the wise old teacher who helps everyone understand things, and maybe even the tricky villain who causes all the trouble. These characters might look different in each story, but they still feel familiar because they're based on archetypes.

You see archetypes every day! Think about your mom, she's like a caregiver archetype. Or your friend who always knows what to do, that’s like the leader or problem-solver archetype. They might not be in a story, but they act just like characters from one!

So next time you're reading a book or playing a game, look for the familiar faces, those are the archetypes!