Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605/1615) gave rise to a character type that can be called the quixotic hero. It keeps manifesting itself in numerous other fictional figures throughout the centuries. In order to classify those representations, the degree of their inter-relatedness and their quixotic quality, this study offers a re-conceptualization of the notions “interfigurality” and (literary) “type”, based on L. Wittgenstein's family resemblance as well as E. Rosch's prototype theory. Thus, the notions' potential is threefold: Firstly, they allow for a heterogeneous and dynamic category (fuzzy category) with the potential to include the manifold representations beyond a black-and-white categorization, blind to less distinct or ambiguous members. Secondly – since the category is considered a mental representation – it takes into account the readers' individual, cognitive associations. Lastly, as a functional principle, the approach is transferable and can be applied to the analysis of fictional characters other than the quixotic hero from any kind of artwork.