Orphans, says Attebery, can be orphaned through the loss of parents, or because they choose to leave abusive parents. They can also be isolated from place and choose to participate in the 'hero archetype', doing heroic deeds.

Orphans can also experience 'psychic reintegration' over the course of their life and give up the orphan archetype, becoming wise instead. Attebery includes a number of orphans from early American literature including Hucklebery Finn.