An open list of 90 words by pterodactyl.
- one-horse town was added by pterodactyl and appears on 2 other lists
- freckle-faced girl with pigtails was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- evil vizier was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- hardboiled detective was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- dark alleyway was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- jolly fat man was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- spandex-clad superhero was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- noble swordsman was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- grey-bearded mentor was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- redshirt was added by pterodactyl and appears on 9 other lists
- absent-minded professor was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- funny animal was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- dumb blonde was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- gruff sergeant was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- femme fatale was added by pterodactyl and appears on 22 other lists
- damsel in distress was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- evil overlord was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- magic sword was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- comic sidekick was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- big freaking gun was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- schoolyard bully was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- handsome prince was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- reluctant hero was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- doomsday weapon was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- romantic foreigner was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- grim reaper was added by pterodactyl and appears on 5 other lists
- barbarian warrior was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- ancient sleeping horror was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- smooth-talking rogue was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- starship the size of a planet was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- english butler was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- fop was added by pterodactyl and appears on 67 other lists
- grizzled sea captain was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- town drunk was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- chosen one was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- evil witch was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- boy wonder was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- humble farmer was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- stoner was added by pterodactyl and appears on 6 other lists
- pimply-faced teen was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- star-crossed lovers was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- barren wasteland was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- mustachioed villain was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- star quarterback was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- grizzled old prospector was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- romantic sidewalk cafe was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- televangelist was added by pterodactyl and appears on 12 other lists
- secret dossier was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- bond girl was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- well-loved stuffed animal was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- dancehall floozy was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- old blind bluesman was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- jewish mother was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- street-corner eschatologist was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- fawning courtier was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- ambulance-chasing lawyer was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- hooker with a heart of gold was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- whiskey priest was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- wise elder statesman was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- corrupt politician was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- rookie with moxie was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- quirky roommate was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- mean girl was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- foreign exchange student was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- cool brooding outsider was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- evil stepsister was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- benevolent pipe-smoking grandfather was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- good cop, bad cop was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- token black guy was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- ragamuffin was added by pterodactyl and appears on 79 other lists
- soccer mom was added by pterodactyl and appears on 2 other lists
- black-clad ninja was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- peg-legged pirate was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- streetwise punk was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- goth kids was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- blonde cheerleader was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- schoolmarm was added by pterodactyl and appears on 4 other lists
- nosey neighbor was added by pterodactyl and appears on 1 other list
- scaley used-car salesman was added by pterodactyl and appears on just this list
- cynical desk sergeant was added by bilby and appears on just this list
- hostile stepson was added by Prolagus and appears on just this list
- farmer's daughter was added by ruzuzu and appears on 1 other list
- Big Bad was added by ruzuzu and appears on 1 other list
- jeanne d'arc was added by 547062467 and appears on 1 other list
- magic negro was added by ry and appears on just this list
- manic pixie dream girl was added by actung and appears on 1 other list
- hotshot pilot was added by ry and appears on just this list
- oracular waif was added by ry and appears on just this list
- redemptive self-sacrifice was added by ry and appears on just this list
- psycho killer was added by ry and appears on 1 other list
ry my (embarrassing) list contemporary-character-classes is tangentially related to this Mar 22, 2013
ruzuzu I <3 pterodactyl, this list, and Wordnik. Yay! Mar 22, 2013
pterodactyl It's 3/22/13, and Wordnik just picked this list as List of the Day! Thanks, Wordnik! A hat tip to you guys and the good work you do! Mar 22, 2013
pterodactyl Oooooooooooooh... Apr 16, 2011
ruzuzu The Periodic Table of Storytelling. Apr 16, 2011
ruzuzu The title of this list had such a deep impact on my psyche that I was looking right at the word "architect" when I mistakenly added "archetype" to Pro's new Decemberists list.
You're good pterodactyl... very good.... Jan 24, 2011
reesetee Truer words.... Jan 11, 2011
chained_bear It's hard not to love a dancing bear. Jan 10, 2011
pterodactyl Thanks, folks! I'm glad you like the list. I've made it a public list, so feel free to contribute.
For more archetypes and tropes, see TVTropes.org. Jan 6, 2011
ruzuzu *also favorited* Jan 5, 2011
Prolagus Thanks Urzulei! By the way, I see David's love and raise you a "favorite". Jan 5, 2011
ruzuzu That's adorable, Prolagus! I love the dancing bear. Jan 5, 2011
Prolagus
Jan 5, 2011
pterodactyl Yes, David, it is. I see your love and share it back to you. :-) Sep 3, 2010
davidvkimball Yes! Is the title of this list a Decemberists reference? I love you! Sep 3, 2010
bilby Here, perhaps you'd like to wear the The Hall of Cliche Super Heroes.
Apr 5, 2009
dontcry nosey neighbor?
scaley used-car salesman? Jul 7, 2008
bilby Oh! How about the jabbering native? Jul 7, 2008
darqueau gutter punk? Jul 7, 2008
sionnach How about those eldritch Goth kids? Jul 7, 2008
bilby Streetwise punk. Jul 7, 2008
whichbe I hope you keep adding to this list, it's great. Jun 10, 2008
bilby How about good cop, bad cop? Two archetypes for the price of one! May 12, 2008
ofravens May I suggest the evil stepsister? Or the benevolent, pipe-smoking grandfather? Apr 12, 2008
chained_bear ptero... not sure, but there are a bunch of Shakespearean insult lists, that's for dang sure! Apr 9, 2008
bilby In early Spielberg films the archetypes were invariably pepsodent suburban normalites - E.T., Poltergeist, Close Encounters, etc. They had to be pinnacles of ordinariness to provide contrast and resonance for feature character/event/monster. Apr 9, 2008
sionnach There's also the quirky roommate (who may also serve as wingman or comic sidekick). The mean girl, the prom queen, or - more interestingly - the former pageant queen/prom queen/head cheerleader. The comedy gold of the foreign exchange student, source of many hilarious misunderstandings. And, of course, there's that high-school stalwart, the cool, brooding outsider.
The arrogant clinician, with entourage of fawning courtiers, held at bay by the straight-shooting, street-smart emergency room nurse. All those female district attorneys, E.R. doctors, forensic pathologists, married to their jobs and unlucky in love. Apr 9, 2008
sionnach Fair point, pterodactyl. My recollections of the stories that I read while growing up is that they were just studded with cads, bounders, and poltroons. But memory is notoriously unreliable.
What is the difference between a cad and a bounder? The bounder is much more despicable. The following story encapsulates the distinction:
An officer is killed in battle, and one of his brother officers is tasked with delivering the bad news to the widow. Now, the brother officer would be a bounder if he told the widow the bad news, and then seduced her - but would be a cad if he seduced her, and then delivered the bad news.
The assumption, of course, being that only a bounder would be so tasteless as to take advantage of a grieving woman. Apr 9, 2008
pterodactyl Is "lily-livered poltroon" an archetype? I'm not sure. It sounds more like a hilarious Shakespearean insult.
And why has no one listed it yet? You'd think that Wordies, of all people, would appreciate hilarious Shakespearean insults. Apr 9, 2008
pterodactyl Great suggestions, sionnach -- thanks! Apr 9, 2008
sionnach How about fawning courtier? ambulance-chasing lawyer? lily-livered poltroon? hooker with a heart of gold? whiskey priest? wise elder statesman? corrupt politician? Apr 8, 2008
ofravens I find both the title and concept of this list to be fairly stupendous. Apr 8, 2008
pterodactyl Instant story -- just add plot! Apr 8, 2008