Hi everyone,

I'm preparing an activity for my adult learners, for when we'll be talking about some theories of literature. One such theory is the idea that characters can fall under certain types or follow certain patterns. You get what we call archetypes.

This is where you come in. Could you look at the following (LONG!) list and name any characters, from any source you like (from books to videogames, heck, maybe even historical or real live people) you believe fits in that description. It's perfectly fine for a character to fit into more than just one type. Oh, and try and keep them as mainstream as possible - I have a wide variety of students, the only common factor being they're 18 and older.

I'll add the first post to give you an idea what I mean and I'd appreciate if you could follow that particular format for your answers.

Really appreciate it :)

Jon


The List

1 Analyst: Can explain anything rationally. Ex: Mr. Spock
2 Anti-hero: A main character who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage , but still ends up doing good. Ex: Wolverine
3 Benefactor: Has a whole lot of something s/he wants to share. Ex: Miss Havisham (Great Expectations)
4 Bully: Has no tolerance for weakness, especially in himself, but could also influence others.
5 Bureaucrat: Follows the rules no matter what. Ex: Hermione Granger
6 Caretaker: Cares for others.
7 Catalyst: Makes plans or ideas become reality, makes things happen.
8 Child: Could be a literal child or just living like one. Ex: Peter Pan
9 Coward: Afraid of everything, controlled by fear. Ex: Cowardly Lion (The Wizard of Oz)
10 Curmudgeon: Irritable and cynical and proud of it. Ex: Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)
11 Damsel in distress: The young lady who needs to be rescued (usually by the hero)
12 Dreamer: Longs to be something he isn’t. Ex: Annie (the musical, Annie)
13 Elder/Mentor/Teacher/Parent: Been around long enough to know some vital information. Ex: Ben Kenobi (Star Wars movies), Mufassa (The Lion King),
14 Explorer/Wanderer: Wants to see the world—could be running from something.
15 Extraordinary man: The guy who can do anything. Ex: Indiana Jones, James Bond
16 Femme fatale: A woman who exercises a great (and often destructive) power over men.
17 Fugitive/Hunted man: Character on the run, either from the law or from their past.
18 Gossip: Must be the first to know everything and the one to pass it on. Ex: Rachel Lynde (the novel Anne of Green Gables)
19 Guardian: Protects the weak.
20 Hedonist/Thrill-seeker: Lives for today in case (or, as if) tomorrow never comes.
21 Herald/Messenger: The bringer of news, good, bad, or necessary. Ex: Hermes in Greek mythology
22 Hermit/Loner: Just wants to be left alone. Ex: Phil (the satyr in Disney’s Hercules), Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon)
23 Hero/Heroine: Usually recognized in a work of literature as someone with great courage and strength (although that's not always the case). The hero may risk or sacrifice his or her life for the greater good.
24 Hunter/Predator: Can catch or kill anything. Ex: Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, The Terminator
25 Innocent: An inexperienced individual exposed to the evils in the world. Ex: Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz)
26 Introvert: Lives inside his shell to prevent anyone from seeing the real him/her. Ex: Gabriella Montez (High School Musical)
27 Investigator: Thrives on puzzles and riddles. Ex: Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes
28 Judge/Mediator: The arbitrator or peacemaker in a conflict.
29 Leader: Always knows the best thing to do—and people follow. Ex: William Wallace (Braveheart)
30 Magician/Wizard/Superpowers: Has special powers or abilities. Ex: Superman, Harry Potter
31 Manipulator: Plays with people and situations to get what s/he wants. Ex: Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With The Wind)
32 Martyr: Willing to suffer or die for others or a cause.
33 Masochist: Finds pleasure in torturing himself, denying himself.
34 Masquerader: Pretends to be something he is not.
35 Monster: A depraved beast. Ex: Gollum (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Grendel (Beowulf)
36 Ordinary Man: Your average Joe, just like you or me. Ex: Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit).
37 Outcast: S/he has been cast out of society or has left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can often times also be considered as a Christ figure (involving the idea of sacrifice, possibly self-sacrifice). Ex: Piggy (William Golding's The Lord of the Flies)
38 Penitent: Lives to atone for his/her sin(s). Ex: Jean Valjean (Les Misérables)
39 Perfectionist: Every action and word must be flawless.
40 Pessimist: Habitually sees or anticipates the worst or is disposed to be gloomy. Ex: Marvin the Paranoid Android (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
41 Pleaser/Show-off: Craves approval from anyone and may do anything to get it.
42 Poet: Life is art, be that through story or song or art or sculpture.
Rebel/Revolutionary: Stands opposed to the status quo and fights for his cause. Ex: Robin Hood
43 Rogue: Looks out for himself and no one else. Ex: Han Solo (the Star Wars movies)
44 Saboteur/Traitor: For whatever reason, he will make sure something fails. Ex: Edmund Pevensie (The Chronicles of Narnia)
45 Samaritan: Does good deeds wherever he goes.
46 Scapegoat: The scapegoat figure is the one who gets blamed for everything, regardless of whether he or she is actually at fault. Example: Snowball (George Orwell's Animal Farm)
47 Scholar: Wants to learn or is already very learned.
48 Sensualist: Addicted to feeling good about himself.
49 Shrew: This is that nagging, bothersome wife always battering her husband with verbal abuse. Ex: Mrs Joe Gargary (Great Expectations)
50 Slave: Does not belong to himself. Ex: Jim (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
51 Star-crossed lovers: This is the young couple joined by love but unexpectedly parted by fate. Ex: Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet)
52 Survivor: Pulls through no matter what happens, doesn’t give up.
53 Sycophant: Self-seeking, flatterer, who works to please those in power. Ex: Smee (Peter Pan)
54 Temptress: Uses power (intellect, magic, beauty) to make others weak. Ex: Megara (Disney’s Hercules)
55 Thief: Takes what he wants or needs. Ex: Philippe Gaston aka “The Mouse” (the movie LadyHawke)
56 Trickster/Jester (sometimes known as “comic relief” if found in a very serious source) : Always looking for the humour in a situation. Ex: Fred and George Weasley (the Harry Potter series)
57 Tyrant: Must be in control at all times. Ex: Captain Hook (Peter Pan)
58 Victim: Was hurt by someone or lives in fear that someone will hurt him. Ex: Clarice “Precious” Jones (the novel Push, and its movie adaption Precious)
59 Villain: Seeks to destroy/trap the hero. Ex: Evil Queen in Snow White
60 Waif: Appears innocent and weak and often relies on the pity of others. Ex: The Kid (the movie Dick Tracy)
61 Womanizer: A man whom no lady can resist. Ex. Giacomo Casanova (Italian adventurer b.1725, d.1798) and Don Juan (from numerous poems and operas) both lend their names to this archetype.