Character Type and Trope Thesaurus Entry: Sage

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.

Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.

But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.

But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.

Sage Archetype

DESCRIPTION: Sages are wise, always seeking knowledge, but they also are willing to impart their learnings to others. This makes them ideal mentors and parental figures.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Mother Abagail (The Stand), Merlin (The Once and Future King), Obi-Wan Kenobi (the Star Wars franchise), Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid), Mr. Keating (Dead Poets Society)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Calm, Centered, Confident, Cooperative, Curious, Decisive, Disciplined, Discreet, Generous, Gentle, Honorable, Intelligent, Just, Kind, Loyal, Mature, Observant, Philosophical, Protective, Resourceful, Responsible, Spiritual, Studious, Talented, Uninhibited, Unselfish, Wise

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Controlling, Fussy, Know-It-All, Perfectionist, Possessive, Pushy, Worrywart

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Being highly curious
Seeking truth
Being a lifelong learner
Having a specific insight that others lack
Being specialized in an area of expertise (the Force, magic, math, baseball, etc.)
Being quirky
Holding a job that is well below their potential because it allows them to help others
Considering different viewpoints (instead of dismissing or being threatened by them)
Eagerly trying new things
Thinking before speaking; weighing their thoughts and words carefully
Being a good teacher
Caring about the people they’re mentoring
Using unorthodox teaching methods
Being optimistic about people and the future of humanity
Offering unsolicited advice if doing so could help someone grow
Challenging lies, misconceptions, and biases
Thinking deeply about things
Working well with others
Not being ego-driven (dismissing slights, not fussing about getting credit for ideas, etc.)
Guiding others while sitting back and not actively participating in the fight
Being reluctant to take action until enough knowledge is gained
Making personal sacrifices in the pursuit of knowledge
Living alone (which, from a story perspective, makes it easier for the sage to mentor others)
Having a spiritual or mystical bent
Guiding their charges to find their own answers (instead of telling them what to believe)
Being perceptive—particularly regarding the hero’s weaknesses and how they should be challenged
Responding to threats calmly and carefully
Standing alone to uphold the truth or challenge a wrong

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Being paired with a floundering hero who doesn’t want help
Needing to help someone who is loathsome in some way
A problem with no apparent solution
The sage’s area of expertise failing to provide the answers it always has
A physical, emotional, or mental ailment that makes learning a challenge
Being overcome by a rival
A ticking clock situation tempting the sage to cut corners or make hasty decisions
Not getting along with the person they’re attempting to mentor

INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH
Discovering that advice they’ve given was wrong
Succumbing to temptation and letting someone down
Knowing a sacrifice is required for the hero to win but being reluctant to make it
Struggling to ascertain the correct path forward
Having a crisis of self-doubt; wondering if they’re suited to do what they’re doing, or if the people they’re trying to help are worth saving

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO…
Has their own arc to traverse, possibly with the help of a hero who will mentor them in some way
Has a well-developed backstory that has contributed to who they are now
Isn’t male
Has an atypical trait: frivolous, irresponsible, timid, lazy, cruel, indecisive, easygoing, etc.

CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF
The sage living alone in an isolated area so they won’t be distracted by worldly things
A sage who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the hero
The curmudgeonly sage the hero must win over in order to receive their wisdom

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Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.

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