The
wise old man (also called
sage or "
Senex") is an
archetype as described by
Carl Jung. It is also a classic
literary figure, and may be seen as a
stock character.
[1] Historically, an
expert was referred to as a
sage. The individual was usually a profound
philosopher distinguished for
wisdom and sound
judgment.
This type of character is typically represented as a kind and wise, older father-type figure who uses personal knowledge of people and the world to help tell stories and offer guidance that, in a mystical way, may impress upon his audience a sense of who they are and who they might become, thereby acting as a mentor. He may occasionally appear as an absent-minded professor, losing track of his surroundings because of his thoughts were just mind boggling.
The wise old man is often seen to be in some way "foreign", that is, from a different culture, nation, or occasionally, even a different time, than those he advises. In extreme cases, he may be a liminal being, such as Merlin, who was only half human.
In medieval chivalric romance and modern fantasy literature, he is often presented as a wizard.[2] He can also or instead be featured as a hermit. This character type often explained to the knights or heroes — particularly those searching for the Holy Grail — the significiance of their encounters.[3]
