Evan Skolnick

The Hero’s primary function is to resolve (or at least attempt to resolve) the main conflict. Other functions and/or aspects often seen in a Hero are audience identification, change and growth, action, risk, and sacrifice,

The classic Mentor character is older than the Hero, wiser, and perhaps in an earlier time could have actually been the Hero. Grey hair, beards, and robes are the classic physical attributes of a Mentor, though as with every archetype, modern versions can take many forms.

Mentor functions and roles include:

Teaching: This is the baseline of a Mentor character—offering important advice, knowledge, skills, and training the Hero will need to successfully resolve the main conflict and the many sub-conflicts along the way.

Gift Giving: In addition to information, a Mentor often bestows powerful gifts to the Hero to aid her in her quest.

Motivation and Conscience: Mentor figures often provide not only the means for the Hero to resolve the main conflict, but the motivation to do so in the first place.

Threshold Guardian—or in modern parlance, the Henchman—does exactly what his classical name indicates: he blocks the progress of the Hero.

Whether snarky, ditzy, clumsy, or flamboyant, a character embodying the Trickster archetype infuses comedy and lightheartedness when the story needs it the most.

The Shapeshifter is a character about whom the audience isn’t sure—someone who might be untrustworthy, who can’t be relied on, who might betray the Hero and change sides at a moment’s notice.

the most important thing to understand about the Villain is that he’s the generator/defender of the main conflict, and that he exists to present the final challenge to the Hero. The conflict can’t be resolved until the Villain has been dealt with.

The better we as the audience can relate to him, and the more sympathetic we are to his situation, the stronger the emotions the story can potentially elicit from us.