Archetypes for Your Heroine by Marji Laine

Two weeks ago, Marji Laine gave us information on Archetypes for Your Hero. Today, she's back to talk about various types of heroines. -- Sandy

Marji: Once you have a great hero, he needs a fabulous heroine. Again, Tami D. Cowden’s book, The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes, provides an excellent diving board along with Hippocrates temperaments and Carl Jung’s personality categories.

• Boss is totally in control. (Hippocrates=choleric, Jung=visionary) She has her plan, and has no problem spouting orders to accomplish her goals. Margaret Tate in “The Proposal makes a perfect example, as does Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.”
• Librarian is an expert. (Hippocrates=melancholy/choleric, Jung=thinker) She unearths things others miss because she’s committed to her projects. Think Kathleen Turner’s character in “Romancing the Stone,” Marian the Librarian in “The Music Man,” and Abby Scuito on the TV show NCIS.
• Waif is the damsel in distress. (Hippocrates=phlegmatic/sanguine, Jung=”nurturer”) She needs rescuing, though she harbors inner strength. Maybe not every Disney princess, but more than half fit this category, as does Juliet, Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” and Buttercup in “The Princess Bride.
• Nurturer is the mommy, nurse, or teacher. (Hippocrates=phlegmatic/melancholy, Jung=caregiver) Happy to be in the background, she’ll encourage when needed or give swift kicks in the right direction. Mrs. Crawley of Downton Abby, Eleanor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility, and Mary Poppins round out this group.
• Seductress is a manipulator. (Hippocrates=choleric/melancholy, Jung=inspirer) Though her name reeks of sexuality, this woman will use anything to achieve her goals. Think Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, Evita, Cleopatra, and Black Widow from “The Avengers.”
• Free Spirit is artistic, uninhibited, and spontaneous. (Hippocrates=melancholy/sanguine, Jung=idealist) “The Little Mermaid,” Jane Austen’s Emma, and Phoebe from the TV show “Friends” make good examples.
• Spunky Kid is a grown-up tomboy. (Hippocrates=sanguine/phlegmatic, Jung=giver) She’s just one of the guys, seldom seen in a romantic light. Lucy from “While You Were Sleeping” fills this category, as does Kathleen Kelly in “You’ve Got Mail,” Gidget and Maryann from the TV show “Gilligan’s Island.”
• Crusader is the female version of the warrior. (Hippocrates=sanguine/choleric, Jung=duty-fulfiller) She’s prepared to go down fighting if need be. Think Helen Hunt from “Twister,” Ziva from the TV show NCIS, and Sandra Bullock’s character in “Miss Congeniality.”

Archetypes are the characters at the root of their being. Figuring out a personality type helps to anticipate the way they react to the story-rocks thrown at them. For example: at a sudden fire, the Boss will step in, sending someone to call the fire department. The Waif will likely be trapped inside the burning building. The Seductress will be using the excitement to her advantage. The Free Spirit might stare at the design the flames make against the sky. The Spunky Kid will chat with everyone watching. The Crusader will haul out the hose. And the Librarian will glance at the whole scene from her window across the street.

With the basic traits of the archetypes, it’s easier to craft logical responses from the characters, assign flaws to them, and match them up in relationships.


Is there a particular archetype for heroines that you like to use in your stories? Do you have a favorite one to read about? Which one are you using now?

~~~

Marji is a homeschooling mom of 4 with the oldest a graduate of UT Dallas. She spends her days transporting to and from volleyball, teaching writing classes at a local coop, and directing the children’s music program at her church. Her first publishing credit, a collaborative novella, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt, soared to Amazon's best-selling list and a second, A Ruby Christmas, is due out in December. She hosts the Faith~Driven Fiction Blog.

Archetypes for Your Hero by Marji Laine

Author Marji Laine did a number of posts on her blog explaining the archetypes of heroes and heroines. I loved her analysis of the different types and her comparison to various book and movie characters. Today, she's sharing an overview of these types of heroes. On November 20, Marji will be back, giving equal opportunity to heroines.--Sandy

Marji: Crafting great heroes is essential to a story. Many best-selling authors would argue that the plot begins within the depths of the main character.

The book The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden helps with this task. Discovering the archetypes of the main characters means being able to anticipate how they should react to their circumstances.

Here are the 16 types, loosely connected to Hippocrates temperaments and Carl Jung’s personality categories.

•       Chief is the boss. (Hippocrates=Choleric, Jung=Executive) Will do whatever necessary to succeed. Viewed as tactless and cold. Believes the end justifies the means. Thrives on conflict. Think Joe Fox in “You’ve Got Mail,” Yul Brenner’s character in “The King and I,” or Nick Fury in “The Avengers.”
•          Warrior is confident. (Hippocrates=Choleric/Sanguine, Jung=Protector) Will also do whatever necessary, but success is more altruistic. He doesn’t flinch from conflict, nor will he fail. Think “Captain America,” Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbird,” or the Scarlet Pimpernell.
•        Professor is the expert. (Hippocrates=Melancholy/Choleric, Jung=Scientist) Focused and oblivious to everything outside his task, he avoids interaction with people, but will work long hours to accomplish his goals. Think Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, and Mr. Spock from Star Trek.
•         Bad Boy is a drifter. (Hippocrates=Sanguine/Choleric, Jung=Mechanic) He has trust issues and prefers to work alone. He appears to care little about anything, and loves to break rules. Think Danny Zuko from “Grease,” Ren McCormick from “Footloose,” and Huckleberry Finn.
•         Lost Soul has a creative mind. (Hippocrates=Melancholy/Phlegmatic, Jung=Artist) He cares about everything, though detaches from the life around him. He searches for healing, for forgiveness, for something to make him feel. Think Charlie Brown, Patrick Swayze’s character in “Dirty Dancing,” and the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast.”
•       Best Friend is laid-back and easy going. (Hippocrates=Phlegmatic/melancholy, Jung=Duty Filler) He is people-oriented but has trouble making decisions and doesn’t like center stage. Steady and dependable, he can vary from a hard-working style to a lazy style, depending on the character. Think George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Sheriff Andy Taylor, and Frasier.
•         Charmer is a salesman. (Hippocrates=Sanguine, Jung=Performer) All talk, little substance, and skilled at manipulation. Cares nothing about people, but will follow rules, pushing them to their limits. Think the Music Man, Maverick, Ferris Beuller, and James Bond.
•         Swashbuckler loves action. (Hippocrates=Sanguine/Choleric, Jung=Doer) Extreme-sports enthusiast, he’s in it for the ride. Low commitment levels. High involvement. Cares little for people, but loves an adrenaline rush. Think Indiana Jones, Peter Pan, Tom Cruise’s character in “Top Gun,” and Iron Man.

That’s the list. Your hero will probably fit perfectly into one of these molds. If he fits into two, he should at least share the Hippocrates temperaments. No character should have more than two of these temperaments at any time during the story. A character arch can change an archetype and often does, but only once during a story.

      Do you use an archetype like this when planning your heroes? Do you have other "types" you can add to the list? Does it make plotting your hero's reactions easier?

Marji is a homeschooling mom of 4 with the oldest a graduate of UT Dallas. She spends her days transporting to and from volleyball, teaching writing classes at a local coop, and directing the children’s music program at her church. Her first publishing credit, a collaborative novella, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt, soared to Amazon's best-selling list and a second, A Ruby Christmas, is due out in December. She hosts the Faith~Driven Fiction Blog.