Wise old man

The wise old man (also called senex, sage or sophos) is an archetype as described by Carl Jung, as well as a classic literary figure, and may be seen as a stock character.

This character is typically represented as a kind and wise elderly father figure who uses personal knowledge of people and the world to help tell stories and offer guidance that may in a mystical way impress upon his audience a sense of who they are and who they might become, thereby acting as a mentor.

[9] Biblical references state that although wisdom is a gift of old age, even the elderly are not protected against youthful folly and[10] that "gray hair is a splendid crown / one finds it on the path of righteousness.

[11] In fiction, a wise old man is often presented in the form of a wizard or other magician in medieval chivalric romance and modern fantasy literature and films, in the style of Merlin.

Notable examples include Gandalf from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars.