Definition of Archetype: An archetype is an original model, pattern, or typical example from which other similar things are derived or based. In literature and art, archetypes are universally recognized symbols, themes, or characters that recur across cultures and time periods. Psychologically, the term was popularized by Carl Jung, who used it to describe inherited, universal patterns of thought and imagery present in the collective unconscious of all humans.
Etymology and Origin: The word ‘archetype’ comes from the Greek ‘archetypon’, meaning ‘pattern, model, type’, itself derived from ‘arche-‘, meaning ‘first, original’ and ‘typos’, meaning ‘model, type, blow, mark of a blow’. The concept has been integral to various fields, including psychology, literature, and art, to describe fundamental, universal prototypes or themes that transcend individual experiences.
