Writing Tropes and
Archetypal Characters: The Chosen One
Almost every great myth or story involves a hero who has
been chosen in some way for the adventure. It is a trope that is practically
hardwired into storytellers. Some heroes are ordinary people called upon to
perform extraordinary feats. In Moore, Oklahoma, there are many of these
heroes. Teachers stayed with their little charges and protected them with their
own bodies. Neighbors clawed through the wreckage without thinking of their own
welfare to save lives. First responders travelled from all over the United
States to perform their every day job, which is not ordinary to most of us. A
terrible event brought out the heroic in everyone in that town.
Other heroes are born to the call. In many instances, they
or their guardians do not know they are special. They may live and work in
lowly occupations, cleaning stables, working as servants, or tending sheep. In
these stories, there are often signs and symbols that indicate their greatness,
usually overlooked by their families. Often it is a prophet or seer who has a
vision and knows the child is the Chosen One.
If you'll recall the story of King David, he was the youngest of the
children in his family. While Saul was still king, the Prophet Samuel was told
the future king of Israel would be found in a certain family. When Samuel met
with the family, and seven of the sons, the father, Jesse, told him all the
male children were present. David, out tending sheep on the hillside, was not
even considered significant enough to be called in for this visit from an
important man. Samuel knew none of the men present were the next king, and
asked if there were other children. Scoffing, Jesse said, "Well, there is
our shepherd boy."
The Chosen One theme also arises when times are bad or
leaders are failing. Continuing the above story, King Saul was not doing very
well. He had nightmares and appeared to be under attack from demons. Only the
songs and lyrics from David's harp, which he had practiced everyday on the hillsides
with the sheep, soothed the tormented King Saul. To make matters worse, the
Philistines were attacking Saul and his people on a regular basis, making daily
life unbearable. The worst of these enemies was a giant covered in body armor named
Goliath. All of Saul's men, including three of David's brothers, ran when they
saw this terrifying creature. Only David held his ground and, using the sling
and a rock just as he had protected his sheep from wolves, he slew Goliath.
Saul should have been thrilled. Instead, he realized David was gaining
popularity. Even his daughter, Michal, fell in love with the young upstart.
Saul knew David was the Chosen One and grew angry, fearful, and vengeful. Saul
went from being a good king to one who ran David out of the county, consulted
witches, conjured up spirits, and searched for ways to rid himself of David. Saul turned into a villain and died on a
field of battle at his own hands. I'm sure you know the rest of the tale. The
shepherd poet became the poet King. From David's line came many more great
heroes, heroines, and Chosen One Stories.
As a reader and as a writer, I love the idea of the Chosen
One. Coming from a humble background, I can relate to the dream of overcoming
obstacles and vanquishing villains. Each
story using this trope can have its own twist, restrained only by the writer's
imagination. So, tell me, which story (or stories) using the Chosen One trope
do you have on your list of favorites?
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Sun Mountain Reviews
Obsession
Sharon Buchbinder
Page Count: 288
Word Count: 71392
ISBN : 978-1-61217-867-7
Amazon
Book Description:
A year after a barbaric childbirth, complete with a near-death experience and an encounter with her guardian angel, Angie Edmonds is just happy she and her son, Jake, are alive.
She's finally in a good place: clean, sober, and employed as a defense attorney.
But at the end of a long work day, she finds herself in a parent's worst nightmare: Jake has been kidnapped and taken across the Mexican border by a cult leader who believes the child is the "Chosen One."Stymied by the US and Mexican legal systems, Angie is forced to ask the head of a Mexican crime syndicate for help.
Much to her chagrin, she must work with Alejandro Torres, a dangerously attractive criminal and the drug lord's right-hand man.
Little does she know Alejandro is an undercover federal agent, equally terrified of blowing his cover--and falling in love with her.
Book Trailer http://youtu.be/f1kujUWoGbk
Excerpt:
“Who are you? Who
is that giant? What did you say to him?”
The pony-tailed man flashed a grin, the smile reaching his
sky-blue colored eyes, giving him an appealing boyish look. “The big guy’s name
is Tio. I told Tio to truss Raul up like the pig he is and to bring him to
Isabel Ramirez. She’ll know exactly what to do with him.”
“Who are you?”
The movie-star-handsome man stopped, bent down until he
was eye-to-eye with Angie.
“I found your passport tossed onto Raul’s desk, Angela
Edmonds from the U.S. of A. I like that name. You look like an angel.”
She shook her head and the street twirled. “I’m no angel.”
She steadied herself on his well muscled, naked arm. Rather than creeping her
out, the skin on skin contact with her rescuer reassured her that he was a real
human and not an angel conjured up in fevered religious delusion and
desperation. “You sound like an American. You haven’t answered my question.
What’s your name?”
“Torres.” Still holding her ID, he strode to the driver’s
side of the car, hopped in and flashed a dazzling grin. “You could call me your
hero because I’m taking you to see the woman who can help you find your son. My
name is Alejandro Espinosa Santoyo Torres. But most people just call me
Alejandro.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Author Sharon Buchbinder
I’ve been writing fiction since I was in high school and have the rejection slips to prove it.
After I graduated with a BA in Psychology and no job, I realized my dreams of working in the attic writing great prose would have to take a back seat to the simple pleasures of eating, drinking, and having a roof over my head.
Fast forward a few decades, and I had a career path that would make all but the kindest say, “What were you thinking?” After working in health care delivery for years, I became a researcher, then an academic. I had it all– a terrific, supportive husband, an amazing son, and a wonderful job. But that itch to write (some call it obsession), kept beckoning me to “come on back” to writing fiction. I spent one whole month away doing nothing but writing fiction, the first of many drafts of my first novel.
My genres include horror, mystery, romance and weird blends of the three. For a sampling of my work (fiction and nonfiction), click on “Stories and Links“.
When not attempting to make students and colleagues laugh, I can be found herding cats and dogs, golfing, deep sea fishing, or writing.
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