So all of us pretty much know what a stereotype is, right? A generality or classification about a group based on something we know about a certain aspect of that group, and it's usually negative. But how many of us know what an archetype is? Well, an archetype is a pattern or mode that serves as the basis for different versions of a literary institution such as a character, theme, or story. Archetypes serve the basic human desire and want. So what's the difference? I believe stereotypes generally have more of a negative connotation associated with them and deal with real people and real groups. Archetypes apply more to literature and parts of literature. They have more of a positive emphasis and deal with recurring themes that humans feel are critical aspects of a story. For example, a tale of chivalry is not a tale of chivalry without bravery from a knight or something along those lines. Classifying all Asians as smart is not an archetype because it really has nothing to do with literature and satisfies no human desire. We're not going to be extremely disappointed and empty if we met an Asian person who isn't smart. Archetypes are just something we feel are always going to part of the story or associated with it in some shape or form. They are part of the tradition and have more of a positive connotation, rather than stereotypes with a usually negative connotation.
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