“There’s a difference between being yourself and being your stereotype.”
What do we mean by the terms ‘archetype’ and ‘stereotype’? Whilst there is certainly a fair amount of overlap between the two, there are a number of differences that make them unique from each other. Archetypes can provide a mould for characters to fit into and for readers to resonate with. Stereotypes are an attempt to weaken a character by generalising them and can have the negative effect of promoting harmful ideas about identities and cultures. So, whilst they undoubtedly appear similar from a glance, knowing the difference between archetype vs stereotype is a fundamental skill for a writer to keep on top of. Join us today at What We Reading as we run you through everything you need to know about the definitions of these two terms and how to use them in your writing!
What Is An Archetype?
An archetype is a model that represents a kind of person, place or item. In the literary world, an archetype is an element that’s based on a recognisable pattern. It can be an emotion such as unrequited love, a character such as a tragic hero, a type of story such as rags to riches, or a symbol such as a clock representing the passage of time.
Archetypes encourage a familiarity that allows the reader to immediately relate to something without having to question why they are. Thanks to our collective exposure to the world, we can recognise these archetypes without having to have them explained by a writer.
One of the most common uses of archetypes comes with characters. Character archetypes are built on a set of characteristics that are identifiable and specific. The heroes and villains we see in the bestsellers today are based on the same archetypes found in classic fairy tales and ancient Greek tragedies.
What Is A Stereotype?
A stereotype is a generalised and simple characterisation. Stereotypes can be applied to single individuals or entire groups of people. Some stereotypes are positive such as elderly people being wise mentors, whereas others can be negative such as jocks being dumb. Regardless, all stereotypes are considered too basic and, as such, shouldn’t be in your writing.
In the real world, people are multilayered and complex. Most don’t conform or identify with the stereotypes many might associate with them, and resorting to these negative connotations by using stereotypes in writing will only harm your work. Strong character development should reflect how deep humans can be rather than rely on generalisations and harmful stereotypes.
Archetype vs. Stereotype: What’s The Difference?
So, what are the differences between stereotypes and archetypes?
In short, an ‘archetype’ refers to a character trait or emotion that has an immediately recognisable quality. On the flip side, a stereotype reduces individuals and groups to notions with the potential of being dehumanising.
In literature, archetypes help provide frameworks that can be understood quickly by every reader. Contrast that with stereotypes and stereotypical characters which are based on oversimplified and potentially dangerous portraits of people and groups.
As an example, an archetypal sage mentor character will more than likely have a number of shared traits and serve a similar purpose: wisdom, insights and lessons for the protagonist. These features transcend the culture and time period when the story was written.
A stereotypical sage character may seem to have similar traits but will be poorly developed. They’re likely to be presented as being eccentric, stroking a flowing beard, speaking in a mystical manner and having poor hygiene. Through this depiction, a writer denotes sagacity without cementing it in personality.
In summary, archetypes and stereotypes allow writers to create a quick connection between their characters and their audience. Archetypes provide a frame for both major and minor characters to be enhanced. Archetypes are recognised patterns of behaviour, stereotypes are generalisations.
Tips For Avoiding Stereotypes
As we mentioned, you want to avoid using stereotypes in your writing. Instead of using stereotypes, consider stock characters. A stock character is still based on a simple and predictable frame and can serve as a literary foil for the protagonist, and play a role in moving the plot forward.
Stock characters are almost always flat and are designed to exaggerate certain traits that make them instantly recognisable. Because of this, they don’t typically change or develop much over the course of the story. When editing your work, take stock of your stock characters and ask:
- Can they be developed?
- Would a clear foil for the protagonist make the story better?
- What would work for the story?
Some of the best examples of stock characters in the archetype vs stereotype comparison would include a mad scientist, a loveable loser or a boy/girl next door.
Check Out Out Everything You Need To Know About Round vs Flat Characters
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
