Characters are one of the most important elements in the story. They not only serve as vehicles to advance the plot but also provide readers with someone to relate to throughout the story. While it is important to create well-rounded characters, not all of them have to be solid to serve their purpose in your story. This is why we have stock characters.

Compared to character archetypes, which are templates for creating vital characters that fit certain roles in the story, stock characters are easily recognizable characters who only have a certain purpose that serves the plot. For example, they’re only there to reveal something about the main character or to reveal something about what lies ahead in their journey. However, many main characters may also fall into stock character stereotypes. What sets them apart is that the plot exists to serve them and not the other way around.

Here are some examples of some easily recognized stock characters:

1. Antihero

The antihero refuses to be called the hero despite their good deeds. To be fair, this is because they’re a “the ends justify the means” kind of character. Acts committed by antiheroes are often morally questionable, which is why they often refuse being called heroes.

2. Cat Lady

As the name suggests, the cat lady is a character who owns (or is obsessed with) cats. Usually she is an observant and recluse spinster, who becomes vital when a witness is needed. The cat lady is often eccentric and has different quirks.

3. Ingénue

The ingénue is characterized by their innocence and wide-eyed wonder. The ingénue is often portrayed as a victim that needs to be saved, as someone who challenges the beliefs of the main characters, or as someone who provides hope amid bleak situations.

4. Jock

The jock is a character with a large build and is often athletic but isn’t too smart. Jocks are often portrayed as bullies who end up getting what they deserve. However, a few jock characters also end up learning a vital lesson that will help them change their ways.

5. Manic Pixie Dream Girl

The personality of the manic pixie dream girl is often just as complicated as the name suggests, but with the massive popularity of this character in many recent romance and YA stories, it has sadly fallen into an overdone stereotype. The manic pixie dream girl is often portrayed in the story as someone who has many contradictions, quirks, and eccentricities. She is is enigmatic and mysterious, at least from the point of view of the main character, who is often a very romantic male.

6. Professor

Simply put, the professor is a stock character that fits in the mentor archetype. Specifically, they work as doctors, scientists, or teachers, which adds to their credibility. As stock characters, professors exist for exposition, both to the characters’ and the audience’s benefit. They also appear in the story from time to time to further assist the main characters as needed.

7. Redshirt

Star Trek fans will find this one familiar. The redshirt is a stock character which is considered expendable and is often killed within the story’s first act. The name comes from the original Star Trek series, where characters in red shirts accompany main characters on missions only to die first.

8. Sinnekins

Sinnekins are sidekicks, usually a pair, who work for the villain. Their purpose is usually to carry out the dirty work that the villain refuses to do themselves. Sinnekins are also sometimes a source of humor in the story.

9. Swashbuckler

The swashbuckler is a character that is popular in stories set in period times. The swashbuckler is a Renaissance-era swordsman or pirate who is often loud, obnoxious, and boastful. They are also often stereotyped as drunkards. However, as needed, they can be quite the hero.

10. Wise Old Man

Like the professor, the wise old man fills in the mentor archetype. They are very, very old compared to the main character, which often means that they have immense wisdom and high intelligence.

Sources:

• 99 Archetypes and Stock Characters Screenwriters can Mold | Screencraft
• Literature Glossary - Stock Characters | shmoop
• Stock Characters | TV Tropes
• Stock Character | Britannica

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