1. ARCHETYPES By Meghan Coffey
Adapted/modeled from & inspired by archetype powerpoint by Stephanie Steele

2. DISCUSSION QUESTION What makes a classic a classic?
Teacher can point out that

3. REVIEW Character Plot Theme
A good time to review terms, the stories that were read in Unit 1, that there are different types of characters etc…

4. ARCH(E)•TYPE A R C H E T Y P ARCH(E) = main TYPE = type
So…. ARCHETYPE = main type

5. A R C H E T Y P
ARCHETYPES…
are models that determine the form and function of a narrative,
are reoccuring images, symbols, character types or patterns (think: theme),
represent human nature & human ideals,
appear in every short story, movie, novel, play, show.

6. A R C H E T Y P
TYPES OF ARCHETYPES
Situational
Symbolic
Character

7. SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPES
A given experience that a hero or character must endure to move from one place in life to the next
Actions and events that add to the plot
A common event seen throughout stories in many different genres

8. SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPES
The Quest
Death and Rebirth
The Task
Nature vs. Mechanistic World
The Initiation
Good vs. Evil
The Journey
The Unhealable Wound
The Fall
The Ritual

9. SITUATIONAL
THE QUEST
A quest describes a search for someone or something of great power or importance
A quest is never easily accomplished and often includes near impossible challenges
Can also be a quest for identity / to find oneself
Also Indiana Jones

10. THE TASK SITUATIONAL The Hero must perform some nearly superhuman deed
This is done to save the kingdom, win the girl, or find himself

11. THE INITIATION SITUATIONAL An initiation symbolizes a right of passage
An adolescent may come into adulthood through an initiatory
Very much connected with growing up and maturity
EXAMPLE: Masons created an initiation process that many secret societies still follow to date.

12. THE JOURNEY SITUATIONAL
Sends the hero on a search for some truth or information
Forces the hero to discover many unpleasant truths
At his lowest point, the hero will return to the world of the living

13. SITUATIONAL
THE FALL
Shows a descent from a higher to lower state of being
Represents a loss of innocence
Usually comes with some type of expulsion as a result of disobedience
EXAMPLE: In the Christian faith, Adam and Eve were the first two human creations of God. By choosing to eat the forbidden fruit, the two lost their innocence and fell out of favor with God.

14. DEATH & REBIRTH SITUATIONAL
The most common of all situational archetypes
Parallels the cycle of nature with the cycle of life
Morning or Spring = Birth or Youth
Evening or Winter = Old Age or Death
Other examples: Jesus Christ

15. Nature vs. Mechanistic World
SITUATIONAL
Nature vs. Mechanistic World
Nature represents purity and good
Technology represents evil and corruption

16. Good vs. Evil SITUATIONAL Battle between two primal forces
Traditionally, Good will triumph over evil
Can be found in almost any movie, book, or television show
(protagonist vs. antagonist)
* Point out that “The Most Dangerous Game” is a battle between good and evil. Disney movies are typically good vs. evil.

17. The Unhealable Wound SITUATIONAL
Either physical or psychological damage that cannot be repaired
Indicates a loss of innocence
Drive the sufferer to extremes
Other Examples: Two Face, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker

18. The Ritual SITUATIONAL Mark a rite of passage
Show character’s role in society
Explain a person’s role in the world
Brings child to adult world
* Example shown: Bar Mitzvah; Baptisms in Christianity

19. REVIEW: SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPES
Situational Archetypes are events or happenings that a character goes through in order to transcend from one place to the next.
ASSIGNMENT:
In your group, generate examples (books, movies, TV shows, myths, etc.) that demonstrate three of the ten different types of situational archetypes.
You may NOT use any of the examples given to you in the PowerPoint!
Be prepared to share your examples with the class.
The Quest
The Task
The Initiation
The Journey
The Fall
Death and Rebirth
Nature vs. Mechanistic World
Good vs. Evil
The Unhealable Wound
The Ritual

20. SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPES SYMBOLIC
Serve as a representation of a specific person, act, deed, place or conflict. They are easily recognizable but not as common as situational archetypes.

21. SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPES SYMBOLIC Light vs. Darkness Water vs. Desert
Heaven vs. Hell
Fire vs. Ice
The Magic Weapon
Colors, Numbers & Shapes
Haven vs. Wilderness
Supernatural Intervention
Nature & Objects

22. Light vs. Dark SYMBOLIC Light suggests hope, renewal, or enlightenment
Darkness implies mystery, ignorance, or despair
The battle of light and darkness will stretch beyond actual light and dark. The good (light) and bad (dark) can be seen through a story’s characters and their actions

23. Water vs. Desert SYMBOLIC
Water appears as a symbol of fertility and birth
Water may symbolize a spiritual birth or the beginning of something. Water brings about hope for new life and spirituality.
A Desert typically represents a loss of life, hope, or faith.

24. Heaven vs. Hell SYMBOLIC
Places not easily accessible by man are regarded as the dwelling places of either the gods or demons
Heaven = The skies, clouds, or mountains house the gods; associated with light & nature
Hell = Canyons, caves, and the inner earth play home to the evil forces of the world; associated with fire, demons, evil & unknown places of earth

25. The Magic Weapon SYMBOLIC A symbol of the hero’s extraordinary quality
No other can use it to its full potential
Traditionally given by a mentor
Arthur & Excalibar, Harry Potter’s cloak or the sword from Dumbledore

26. Haven vs. Wilderness SYMBOLIC
Places of safety contrast with the unknown threatening forces of the wilderness
Heroes often must return to a safe haven in order to regain health or supplies
In the Hunger Games Katniss & Peeta hide out & Katniss tends to Peeta’s wounds until he’s strong again.

27. Supernatural Intervention
SYMBOLIC
Supernatural Intervention
God or gods intervene in a given situation
The gods will often favor the hero but occasionally they do not.
This is seen throughout Greek Mythology as well as most practiced religions
EXAMPLE: In the movie 300, the gods intervened when “Zeus hurled thunderbolts and rain storms as the enemy ships crashed against the rock.”

28. SYMBOLIC
Fire vs. Ice
Typically, fire represents knowledge, light, life, fertility and (re)birth
Ice will usually represent a deserted place, ignorance, sterility, and death

29. Colors, Numbers, Shapes, Nature & Objects
SYMBOLIC
Colors, Numbers, Shapes, Nature & Objects
SEVERAL colors, numbers, shapes, aspects of nature and objects have special symbolic meaning as well.
May be motifs (reoccurring structures)
Examples: Six = devil, evil; Red = passion, temptation, anger, heat; (Scarlet in red dress); Heart = love; Triangle = communication, the trinity; forest = lost, fear; apple = knowledge/evil (Garden of Eden, Snow White, Twilight cover); Moon = mystery, change; purple = royalty; green = life, nature

30. REVIEW: SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPES
Symbolic Archetypes represent a specific person, act, deed, place or conflict.
ASSIGNMENT:
In your group, generate examples (books, movies, TV shows, myths, etc.) that demonstrate three of the ten different types of symbolic archetypes.
You may NOT use any of the examples given to you in the PowerPoint!
Be prepared to share your examples with the class.
Light vs. Darkness
Water vs. Desert
Heaven vs. Hell
Haven vs. Wilderness
Supernatural Intervention
Fire vs. Ice
Colors, Numbers & Shapes
Nature & Objects

31. CHARACTER ARCHETYPES CHARACTER
A person or being that serves as a representative of a greater ideal
Characteristics, actions, abilities, or powers contribute to the archetype characterization

32. CHARACTER ARCHETYPES CHARACTER The Hero The Friendly Beast Mentor
Evil Figure with Untimely Good Heart
The Initiate
Creature of a Nightmare
Young Man from the Provinces
Scapegoat
Group of Companions
Devil Figure
Earthmother
Unbalanced Hero
Temptress
The Unfaithful Wife
Damsel in Distress
Star-Crossed Lovers
Loyal Retainers
The Outcast

33. The Hero CHARACTER Traditionally the protagonist of a story
Often his past is a mystery
He is the champion, king, leader or savior of many
Endures pain and sorrow that all lead to a greater good

34. CHARACTER
The Mentor
Serve as a teacher or counselor to the initiate or future hero
Role Model
Sometimes a Father or Mother figure
The Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi

35. The Initiate CHARACTER Young heroes who must endure training
Must complete some type of quest/challenge
They are innocent and often wear white
Shown: Divergent, during Tris (& other newbees) initiation to Dauntless

36. Young Man from the Provinces
CHARACTER
Young Man from the Provinces
A hero is spirited away as a young man and raised by strangers
Later returns home where he is a stranger who looks to find a solution to problems

37. Group of Companions CHARACTER Loyal to the hero
Group willing to face dangers in order to be together
Jesus’s Apostles, Robin Hood’s Merry Men, Lord of the Rings

38. Earthmother CHARACTER Symbolic of abundance, fertility, and knowledge
Offers spiritual and emotional advice or nourishment to those she meets
SHOWN: In Shakespeare in Love Queen Elizabeth gives Viola advice despite this hard face. Oracles, goddesses etc. often give advice

39. Temptress CHARACTER Sensuous with beauty
The hero is physically attracted to her but she will ultimately bring about his downfall
Example Shown: Catwoman. Additional: From the X-men comics and movies, Jean Grey and Cyclopes fall in love but she ultimately brings his downfall by turning into the Phoenix and killing him.

40. The Unfaithful Wife CHARACTER Woman, married to a man she sees dull
Attracted to a more interesting or handsome man
Commits an act of Infidelity
Anna Karenina, SHOWN: Helen of Troy left her husband to be with Paris, a more attractive and virile man

41. Damsel in Distress CHARACTER
Vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero
She is often used as bait to trap the hero
Mary Jane Watson is often being tossed around by villains in Spiderman.

42. Star-Crossed Lovers CHARACTER
These two characters are engaged in a love affair
Fated to end tragically
Society, family, or friends do not approve of the relationship

43. Loyal Retainers CHARACTER Somewhat heroic
Similar to a servant with hero like qualities
Duty: Protect the Hero
Shown: Dobby from Harry Potter; Also Sam from Lord of the Rings

44. CHARACTER
The Outcast
Banished by Society or a social group for some crime (real or imagined)
Destined to become a wanderer
Moves from place to place
Shown: Wolverine; Also Hancock

45. The Friendly Beast CHARACTER Shows characteristics of the hero
Finds villains threatening and may attempt to warn the hero
Loyal only to the hero & the hero’s companions
Shown: Hagrid from Harry Potter; Also: Chewbacca (Han Solo’s companion) from Star Wars

46. Evil Figure with Untimely Good Heart
CHARACTER
Evil Figure with Untimely Good Heart
A Redeemable Devil
Saved by the love or faith of a hero
May have started out good, then through a fall becomes evil, but returns to good in the end
Shown: The Grinch. Additional: Ebenezer Scrooge

47. Creature of a Nightmare
CHARACTER
Creature of a Nightmare
Monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest parts of the mind
Threatens the life of the hero
Often a perverse or desecrate form of human
Devil from Fantasia

48. The Scapegoat CHARACTER Human or Animal
Public Death is a sin of the community
Death makes him a more powerful force than when he lived
Also Simon in Lord of the Flies

49. Devil Figure CHARACTER Evil Incarnate Offers Worldly Goods
Will tempt, cheat, steal, lie, and destroy anyone or anything he comes into contact with

50. Unbalanced Hero CHARACTER
Protagonist has mental or emotional deficiencies.
Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a lot of Poe’s protagonists

51. REVIEW: CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
Character Archetypes represent a specific type of person (or individual/animal/creature with human characteristics) that represents a higher ideal.
ASSIGNMENT:
In your group, generate examples (books, movies, TV shows, myths, etc.) that demonstrate three of the ten different types of character archetypes.
You may NOT use any of the examples given to you in the PowerPoint!
Be prepared to share your examples with the class.
The Hero
Mentor
The Initiate
Young Man from the Provinces
Group of Companions
Earthmother
Temptress
The Unfaithful Wife
Damsel in Distress
Star-Crossed Lovers
Loyal Retainers
The Outcast
The Friendly Beast
Evil Figure with Untimely Good Heart
Creature of a Nightmare
Scapegoat
Devil Figure

52. A R C H E T Y P
In Conclusion…
Archetypes are everywhere, but we often just overlook them.
They can be found in every book, short story, TV show, or movie.
Archetypes represent ideas larger than themselves!