Archetypes

Carl Jung Psychiatrist that advanced the idea of archetypes. Collective Unconscious: –All cultures use archetypes to build their stories without communicating with one another about them.

Folklore and Myths As generations of people passed stories down through both oral storytelling and eventually the written word, archetypes became clearly visible.As generations of people passed stories down through both oral storytelling and eventually the written word, archetypes became clearly visible. The archetypes are characters that represent patterns of behavior and even stereotypes.The archetypes are characters that represent patterns of behavior and even stereotypes. They are characters that everyone can recognize and understand.They are characters that everyone can recognize and understand.

Archetypes are patterns that can be, and are, copied.Archetypes are patterns that can be, and are, copied. They are symbols or characters that appear again and again in myths and literature.They are symbols or characters that appear again and again in myths and literature. They survive because they portray characters, conflicts and events that are timeless.They survive because they portray characters, conflicts and events that are timeless. They help the reader to understand the theme of the work.They help the reader to understand the theme of the work. So What is an Archetype?

VAMPIRE

Archetypes Characteristics that you see repeated over and over again in different stories and media form an archetype.Characteristics that you see repeated over and over again in different stories and media form an archetype. Some classic examples of archetypes are:Some classic examples of archetypes are: –The hero –The damsel in distress –The battle between good and evil

Recognizing Archetypes

Situational Archetypes Situational archetypes are plot events that we see repeated in numerous works of literature, movies, and other forms of entertainment.

The Quest A Search for someone or some object, which when it is found and brought back will restore life to a wasted land.

The Task To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, the hero performs some superhuman deed.

The Initiation The awakening of a teenager or an initiation into adult life.

The Journey The hero goes in search of some truth or information to restore life to the kingdom. He must descend into a real or psychological hell and is forced to discover the blackest truths about himself. He must then decide to return to the world of the living.

The Fall Characters experience a loss of innocence and often experience expulsion from a kind of paradise as a penalty for disobedience.

Death and Rebirth Deals with the similarities between the cycle of nature and life; morning and springtime represent birth, youth, or rebirth; evening and winter suggest old age or death.

Nature vs. Mechanistic World Nature is good while technology and society are often evil.

Battle Between Good and Evil Good triumphs over evil despite great odds, keeping mankind hopeful.

The Wound that Won’t Heal A wound that is either physical or psychological; it cannot be healed fully; indicates a loss of innocence; always aches.

The Ritual Ceremony that marks a new stage in life (weddings, funerals, coronations)

Symbolic Archetypes Places or objects that carry the same meaning across different storylines. People understand what they mean and what they represent because of their prevalence in literature and media.

Light vs. Darkness Light suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness suggests the unknown, ignorance, or despair.

Water vs. Desert Water is necessary to life and growth and so it appears as a birth or rebirth symbol; the appearance or rain in a work can suggest spiritual birth or rebirth. Characters who live in the desert are often dead to morals or the good side.

Heaven vs. Hell Gods live in the skies or mountaintops, evil forces live in the bowels of the earth.

Infinite Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity Uneducated characters can often be wise using their common sense while some very educated characters have no common sense.

Supernatural Intervention The gods most often intervene on the side of the hero to assist him in his quest.

Heaven vs. Wilderness For the hero, places of safety are required for time to regain health and resources. These hideouts are usually in unusual places.

Fire vs. Ice Fire can represent knowledge, light, life, and rebirth while ice can represent ignorance, darkness, sterility, and death

Magic Weapon Some object used to fight the forces of evil that has magical properties

Character Archetypes These character types are seen in various stories, movies, and other forms of entertainment. They are easily recognizable and have common traits that we can predict.

The Hero Mother is sometimes a virgin, circumstances of birth are unusual, some attempt is made at birth to kill him; raised by foster parents, returns to kingdom to right wrongs; body may be burned rather than buried.

Young Man from the Provinces Hero is taken away as a young man and raised by strangers; when he returns home, he can view problems objectively and can solve them more easily than others.

The Initiate Young heroes or heroines who go through training; usually innocent and wear white.

Mentor Teacher or counselor to the initiate; often are father or mother figures to the hero or heroine.

Father-Son Conflict Father and son are separated and do not meet until the son is an adult, often the mentor is loved and respected more.

Hunting Group of Companions Loyal companions willing to face any number of dangers to be together.

Loyal Retainers Somewhat like servants to the hero who are heroic themselves. Their duty is to protect the hero. They are expendable.

Friendly Beast A beast on the side of the hero who shows that nature sides most often with the forces of good.

Devil Figure Evil incarnate. Offers worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the hero in exchange for the possession of the soul.

Evil Figure with Good Heart Redeemable evil figure saved by the nobility or love of the hero.

Scapegoat Animal or human who is unjustly held responsible for others’ sins.

Outcast Figure banished from a social group for some crime against his fellow man (could be unjustly accused or could banish himself because of guilt)

Temptress Sensuous beauty, brings about the hero’s downfall because he is physically attracted to her

Platonic Ideal Female figure who provides intellectual stimulation for the hero. He is not physically attracted to her.

Star Crossed Lovers Two lovers forbidden to be together because of rules of society or family, often ends tragically.

Creature of Nightmare Animal or creature disfigured or mutilated, monsters who are the antagonists in the story.

Agree or Disagree? As the following statements appear on the screen, move to the right side of the room if you strongly agree. If you strongly disagree with the statement, move to the left side of the room.As the following statements appear on the screen, move to the right side of the room if you strongly agree. If you strongly disagree with the statement, move to the left side of the room.

1.There is no such thing as a completely original idea. 2.Certain symbols mean the same thing to everyone. 3.Everyone can agree on what is right and what is wrong. 4.Everyone is capable of doing evil. 5.Symbols and dreams mean different things to every person. 6.There is a knowledge we are all born with that influences our experiences and behavior. 7.People have been acting the same way since time began. 8.Human behavior is the same across different cultures. 9.Stereotypes are real and valid. 10.Every story contains the same characters.