Literary Archetypes

noun a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion; a hermit

• The anchorite spent years in solitude, seeking spiritual enlightenment.
• I heard that old man who lives in the cave is an anchorite.
• Don't be such an anchorite, come out and have some fun with us!
• In a world of constant noise and distractions, sometimes we all need to be an anchorite and find some peace within ourselves.

noun a person of the general public, typically with average income and education

• The policies implemented by the government should consider the needs of the common man.
• The common man just wants to be able to afford a decent living.
• The common man is just trying to make ends meet.
• In the eyes of the law, the common man is equal to all others.

noun a person who deliberately starts fires

adjective capable of causing fire or combustion; inflammatory or provoking

• The police found evidence of an incendiary device at the scene of the fire.
• Don't play with incendiary materials, it's dangerous.
• That rumor is so incendiary, it's spreading like wildfire.
• His incendiary remarks sparked a heated debate among the group.

noun a person who is traveling from one place to another, especially on a long trip

• The journeyer embarked on a quest to explore uncharted territories.
• The journeyer set off on an adventure to discover new places.
• The journeyer hit the road to see what's out there.
• As a journeyer of life, he embraced the ups and downs of the path ahead.

noun Jesus Christ, regarded by Christians as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.

• Many people believe that the Messiah has not yet come to fulfill the prophecies.
• Do you think the Messiah is going to show up anytime soon?
• I heard that dude thinks he's the Messiah or something.
• In the world of fashion, she was hailed as the messiah of sustainable clothing.

noun A person who is female and has reached an advanced age

adjective Describing the age of the woman as advanced or elderly

• The old woman lived alone in a small cottage in the countryside.
• The old woman always had a story to tell about the good old days.
• That old woman is a real character, always cracking jokes and making everyone laugh.
• The old woman symbolized wisdom and experience in the eyes of the young villagers.

noun a title given to a bishop in certain Eastern Christian churches

• The patriarch of the family made all the important decisions.
• The patriarch is the head honcho around here.
• The old man is the patriarch of the clan.
• The CEO is considered the patriarch of the company.

noun a male given name

• Romeo is a tragic character in William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.
• Did you hear about Romeo and Juliet's love story?
• Romeo is totally whipped for Juliet.
• He's like a modern-day Romeo, always chasing after love.

noun a male admirer or sweetheart

• The young swain courted the lady with flowers and poetry.
• The swain asked the girl out on a date.
• The swain was totally into the new girl at school.
• The swain of the forest whispered secrets to the trees.

noun a woman who is strong, brave, or aggressive; a woman who has masculine qualities

• The historical novel depicted a strong-willed virago leading her people into battle.
• My grandmother was a real virago when it came to protecting her family.
• She's known around town as the neighborhood virago because of her no-nonsense attitude.
• In literature, the character of Lady Macbeth is often portrayed as a virago due to her ambitious and ruthless nature.

noun a person who travels aimlessly or without a fixed destination

• The wanderer traveled through the remote countryside, documenting his journey in a journal.
• The wanderer hitchhiked across the country, stopping in small towns along the way.
• The wanderer was a real nomad, always on the move and never staying in one place for too long.
• She was a wanderer in search of inner peace, constantly seeking new experiences to fulfill her soul.