ARCHETYPES

first
developed by the psychologist Carl Jung, that all humans share certain universal, but unconscious,
mental models for relationships and important life experiences. From the birth of civilization,
according to Campbell and Jung, humans have embedded these models in myths. These ancient stories
address timeless topics like families, fear, success and failure, and share certain elements, called
archetypes, the basics of which include the hero, the mentor and the quest. Archetypes also include
more specific plot devices such as the magic sword, and the lake or pool that hides a secret beneath
its surface. These archetypes show up in everything from the King Arthur legends to Harry Potter to
online role-playing games. The existence of universal archetypes might explain why people all over
the world fall in love with the same kinds of stories, and why you can find similar myths in very
different cultures.