Archetypal (Adjective)
Meaning
Representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned; "archetypal patterns"; "she was the prototypal student activist".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The monomyth, or hero's journey, is an archetypal narrative structure that appears in stories from cultures all around the world.
- In Jungian psychology, archetypal images are thought to be shared across cultures and time, appearing in the collective unconscious.
- She was the archetypal businesswoman, always impeccably dressed and completely focused on her career.
- The ancient Greek myths are full of archetypal figures, such as the wise old mentor and the beautiful, doomed maiden.
- The Ford Mustang is often considered an archetypal American muscle car, symbolizing freedom and rebellion on the open road.