Question

__________ are recurring character types in folklore, fiction, movies, etc. It is most helpful to think of them as symbols of various human qualities, and figures we experience in life.

Answer 1

Archetypes are recurring character types in literature that symbolize universal human qualities and roles. Stock characters, a type of archetype, rely on cultural stereotypes for comedy and other effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

​​​​​The entities being described are known as archetypes. Archetypes are recurring character types in various forms of storytelling, including folklore, fiction, and movies. Rather than fully-fledged characters, they symbolize human qualities and familiar figures in our lives through their universal patterns.

Stock characters are a subset of archetypes and are particularly common in comedy. They play on expectations and cultural stereotypes such as the bumbling servant, the cruel boss, or the overprotective mother. These characters tend to lack depth, leaning towards stereotypes and sometimes becoming almost caricature-like in their portrayal.

Archetypes, however, are not limited to characters alone. They can also represent objects or narratives that embody foundational concepts of human experience. An archetypal object might be the forbidden fruit, like the apple in the Garden of Eden, while an archetypal narrative could be a hero's return home, similar to Odysseus's journey in Greek mythology.