Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
rather a function, a job which several different characters might perform in the
course of a story. A character primarily manifesting one archetype — the hero, the
shapeshifter, the trickster, even the villain — may temporarily slip on the mask of
the M e n t o r in order to teach or give something to the hero.
In Russian fairy tales, the wonderful character of the witch Baba Yaga is
a Shadow figure who sometimes wears the M e n t o r mask. On the surface she's a
horrible, cannibalistic witch representing the dark side of the forest, its power to
devour. But like the forest, she can be appeased and can shower gifts on the traveler.
Sometimes if Prince Ivan is k i n d and complimentary to her, Baba Yaga gives him
the magical treasure he needs to rescue the Princess Vasilisa.
Although Campbell called these M e n t o r figures W i s e O l d M e n or Women,
they are sometimes neither wise nor old. T h e young, in their innocence, are often
annaabi.ee 
