archetype
UK: ˈɑːkɪtaɪp | US: ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp
n. a very typical example of a certain person or thing
n. an original model or pattern from which copies are made
n. (in Jungian psychology) a universally inherited idea or image
The word "archetype" originates from Greek archetypon, combining arche- (meaning "original" or "first") and typos (meaning "model" or "form"). The term was later adopted into Latin as archetypum before entering English in the 16th century. The concept reflects the idea of an original pattern or prototype from which all later versions are derived, whether in literature, art, or psychology (as in Jung's theory of universal symbols).
The hero's journey is a common archetype in mythology.
Shakespeare's Hamlet is often seen as the archetype of the tragic hero.
The architect studied the archetype of ancient Greek temples.
In Jungian psychology, the "mother" is a key archetype.
The novel subverts the archetype of the damsel in distress.