 Archetypes are……  Original models on which something is patterned or based  Standard, typical examples  Universal- they cross genres, generations, languages and cultures  “Paradigms”

  Provide a framework to understand any piece of fiction  To understand the author’s purpose and characters’ motivations better We study Archetypes to:

  In literature archetypes occur as:  Characters  Colors  Settings or Locations  Themes  Numbers Archetypes of Literature

  Hero  Villain  Fair Maiden  Mentor or Sage  Sidekick  Joker or Fool  Temptress The Archetypal Characters

  HERO  can either be male or female (in western literature, the hero is more often male)  Must go on a quest to conquer evil  Often has a tragic flaw, such as hubris or excessive pride  Usually superior to common people in three ways:  1. Morally  2. Mentally  3. Physically But, The Archetypal Hero

  Can be physically inferior--Quasimodo, the Phantom, Dare Devil, and still be a hero.  Can be mentally inferior--Charlie from Flowers for Algernon and still be a hero.  HOWEVER, a hero cannot be morally inferior.  Moral superiority allows him to fight the villain, allowing good to triumph over evil Can you think of a hero from literature or movie? The Archetypal Hero

  Birth/Childhood  Preparation or training  Quest  Triumphant Return or Death The Four Stages of a Hero’s Life

  Usually dark or wearing dark clothing  Is the person the hero must battle in his search for himself  Is the person the hero must defeat to conquer evil.  Examples: Darth Vader, He-Who-Must- Not-Be-Named Can you think of any other villains? Character Type - Villain

Character Type - Fair Maiden/Love Interest  Archetypal Fair Maiden is:  The romantic focus of the hero and/or the villain  The victim who must be saved from evil.  Pure and innocent of the world’s evil ways.  The “damsel in distress”

  Archetypal Mentor:  Is the one who prepares the hero for the journey or quest  Is the person who provides the lessons the hero uses during the quest and ultimate battle  Has lessons that provide moral strength  Is also called The Sage or Wiseman  May give up his life or make sacrifice to save another or save the cause Can you think of any Mentors? Character Type - Mentor

  Archetypal Sidekick and/or Henchmen:  Often adds humor or “warm fuzzies”  Supports or is the best friend of the hero/villain Can you think of any sidekick examples? Character Type: Sidekick

  Siren/Seductress/Temptress: Characterized by sensuous beauty, she is one whose physical attraction may bring about the hero's downfall.  Fool: Provides Comic relief to an often over-dramatic plot. Is funny, plays tricks, but is not malicious. Other Character Types

  Archetypal colors get their meanings or symbolism through their existence in the natural environment.  The colors may have positive or negative meanings Archetypal Colors and Symbols

  RED  comes from blood  symbolizes passion (both love and anger)  symbolizes courage, violence  Valentine’s Day  associated with sin (scarlet woman) Colors

  BLACK  Symbolizes evil: The villain, fear, coldness, scary things of the night  Death  Sin  Positive: Elegance, sleekness, simplicity Colors

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  BLUE  Symbolizes peace, tranquility  Think of the sky, or still water Colors

  GOLD / YELLOW  Symbols of gods and royalty  Think of the sun  Created in awe of people--wealth  Think of the precious metal ore  Fullness of life, ripeness, harvest Colors

  GREEN  Symbolizes growth, life and fertility  Think of spring  Freshness  Renewal  Vegetation myths (their gods were little Jolly Green Giants--of the earth--rejuvenation each spring)  Negatives: Jealousy, inexperience Colors

  PURPLE  Royalty  Purple dye is hardest to process, only the wealthy could afford it.  Wisdom, valor  Negative: bruising, rotten Colors

Archetypal Themes  Think of themes of Disney Movies, “Star Wars,” cartoons, comic books with heroes and villains, legends and myths.  The bad deserve to lose, the good should always win, the power of love should be stronger than the power of hate.  Used in literature to express the need “to set the universe on the right course.”

  The Big Ones:  Love conquers all  Good will triumph over evil  Hate, if victorious, will destroy all  Treat others how you would like to be treated Archetypal Themes

  Setting includes time, place, and atmosphere  Pay attention to the time of day a story takes place.  Settings are carefully chosen by the author to emphasize point of story  DAY=Good things, rational things  NIGHT=Bad things, lack of understanding What does the setting “It was a dark and stormy night” make you think of? Archetypal Settings

 Archetypal Numbers 3 - light, spiritual awareness, unity (the Holy Trinity) 4 - associated with the circle, life cycle, four seasons; female principle, earth, nature, elements. 7 - the most potent of all symbolic numbers signifying the union of three and four, the completion of a cycle, perfect order, perfect number; religious symbol.

  Authors use archetypes to tell us something about the story without being too obvious.  They use these people, colors, settings and theme to help us to infer what is supposed to happen.  How can we use archetypes to become better readers? And so….