A presentation on the eight basic archetypal characters found in complete stories. Examples from Star Wars and Contact are provided. The original article for this presentation can be found here: http://storyfanatic.com/ss/2031

1. ARCHETYPAL
CHARACTERS

2. ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS
Eight characters that exhibit familiar
patterns of motivations.

3. PROTAGONIST
Pursues the goal

4. ANTAGONIST
Prevents the goal

5. REASON
The logical one

6. EMOTION
The emotional one

7. SIDEKICK
The faithful cheerleader

8. SKEPTIC
The cynical disbeliever

9. GUARDIAN
The helpful teacher

11. ROLES
Easier to observe their function when you
don’t use their names.

12. The Droids

13. The Dark Lord

14. The Princess

15. Whiny Farmboy

16. The Jedi Knight

17. The Wookie

18. Space Pirate

19. PROTAGONIST
Whiny Farmboy
Pursues the goal

20. MAJOR PLOT POINTS
STORY GOAL
Fight the empire; to rebel
STORY CONSEQUENCE
Living under oppression

21. ANTAGONIST
The Evil Empire
Prevents the goal

22. REASON
The Princess
The logical one

23. EMOTION
The Wookie
The emotional one

24. SIDEKICK
The Droids
The faithful cheerleader

25. SKEPTIC
Space Pirate
The cynical disbeliever

26. GUARDIAN
The Jedi Knight
The helpful teacher

27. PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST
REASON EMOTION
SIDEKICK SKEPTIC
GUARDIAN

28. CONTAGONIST
The hindrance

29. CONTAGONIST
The Dark Lord
The hindrance

30. EIGHT ARCHETYPES
PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST
REASON EMOTION
SIDEKICK SKEPTIC
GUARDIAN CONTAGONIST

32. REASON
PROTAGONIST
EMOTION
GUARDIAN
CONTAGONIST
SIDEKICK
SKEPTIC
ANTAGONIST

33. ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS
Essential for a complete argument.
Convenient but not always interesting.

34. ARCHETYPAL
CHARACTERS
Presentation by Jim Hull
storyfanatic.com
Some materials based on the Dramatica theory of story
www.dramatica.com