Some information cited from Powershow.com and Mark O’Meara

Archetypes are universal symbols, (story patterns, settings, characters, or images). These universal symbols are common to human experience across culture and time and evoke deep and sometimes unconscious responses in a reader Literarily speaking, why should I care? 1.It’s Fun- like a riddle 2.Universal power 3.“language of reading” –Thomas Foster WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPE?

Plot pattern Setting Characters Images Themes Etc. AND NOW LETS LOOK AT THE TYPES… ANYTHING CAN BE AN ARCHETYPE

plot pattern archetypes Quest Star-Crossed Lovers Loss of Innocence Coming of Age Fall from Paradise Dystopias I FEEL LIKE I’VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…

The Quest: character(s) are searching for something, whether they know it or not. Often, they end up failing at the stated task, but gain something more important. (i.e.Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the lost Ark) moviemovie The Star-Crossed Lovers: This is the young couple joined by love but unexpectedly parted by fate. (i.e. Romeo and Juliet) moviemovie The Loss of Innocence: A loss of innocence through sexual experience, violence, or any other means. MovieMovie Coming of Age: A story about rites of passage and growing up. Stand by Me, the Goonies, the Sandlot PLOT ARCHETYPES CONT’D..

The Fall From Paradise: A character or characters fall from a utopian state due a series of mistakes or sin. PLOT CONT’D In the Bible, Eve is tempted by the snake to eat the forbidden fruit (another archetype). She and Adam are cast out of paradise, the original sin. movie movie

Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. “The Ages of Man” by Hesiod 4,000 years oldThe Ages of Man Pleasantville ONE MORE PLOT ARCHETYPE…

SETTING ARCHETYPES Certain settings for stories are archetypal. Where the story or scene takes placeis important. We can infer a lot about a story by simply paying attention to the setting: FOREST DESERT MOUNTAIN (OVER OR UNDER) SEA TIME OF DAY? (SUNRISE AND SUNSET) OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

mystery, secrecy, and human unconsciousness. A symbol of the unknown, the opposite of civilized, a place of fear, mystery, secrecy, and human unconsciousness. Most importantly, the forest is a place of TRANSFORMATION. Whenever a character goes into the forest, look for change. Going into the forest was a test of strength and courage Most importantly, the forest is a place of TRANSFORMATION. Whenever a character goes into the forest, look for change. Going into the forest was a test of strength and courage to forge one’s own path into the unknown. Overcoming the tests and challenges that are presented in the forest is what elicits change. movie. Movie Movie 2movieMovieMovie 2 FOREST

Water- a symbol of life and mystery of creation (without water, there is no life), cleansing, and REBIRTH. Sea—spiritual mystery and infinity; timelessness and eternity; journeys across a sea represent the passing of time and therefore change. River—death / rebirth (baptism), A journey on or down a river is often a metaphor for life’s journey, and the stages of it. Excalibur excalibur lady of the lake MovieExcaliburexcalibur lady of the lakeMovie Desert has the opposite meaning: A desert typically represents a loss of life, hope, or faith. Jesus is tempted by Satan as he wanders in the desert. temptation in the deserttemptation in the desert WATER OR DESERT

Represents energy, creativity, thinking, enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision, the passing of time, and life Examples: Rising Sun—Birth and Creation ExcaliburExcalibur Setting Sun—Death SUN

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES: The Hero Savior Outcast Scapegoat Mentor Savior Outcast Scapegoat DO I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE?

The Hero: The courageous figure, the one who’s always running in and saving the day. Unusual birth, initiate, magic weapon, place community above desire, return. The Mentor- The “wise old man” (or woman) who TEACHES the hero, gives advice, weapons or just imparts his knowledge. Can’t go to the end. The Mentor- The Savior-Sacrifices life for the good of the community. (places community above personal desires.) Death makes him a more powerful force than when he lived. A variation of the savior, the scapegoat, is a figure who gets blamed for everything, regardless of whether he/she is actually at fault. (i.e. Snowball in Animal Farm) movie movie The Outcast: The outcast is just that. He or she has been cast out of a society or has left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can oftentimes be considered as a Christ figure. (i.e. Simon in The Lord of the Flies) Elephant ManElephant Man The Scapegoat: The scapegoat figure is one who gets blamed for everything, regardless of whether he/she is actually at fault.(i.e. Snowball in Animal Farm) movie movie COMMON CHARACTER ARCHETYPES

 The Trickster- almost always male, mischievous, plays tricks, shape-shifter, can act as villain The trickster often changes shape (turning into an animal, for example)  Earthmother or The Good Witch- Symbolic of abundance, fertility, and knowledge. Uses the powers of nature for good. Offers spiritual and emotional advice or nourishment to those she meetsfairy god motherfairy god mother  The Evil Witch Motherhood gone bad. Uses the power of nature for evil Women who are jealous of the beauty and fertility of youth. The overprotective mother, who does not want to “sever the umbilical cord” Maleficient MORE CHARACTER ARCHETYPES

Misc. Archetypes Snakes Magic weapon Colors Shapes, Numbers, & Other objects …AND EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK.

Snake (serpent, worm) Bad evil, temptation corruption Good Rebirth (sheds skin), wisdom, (ouroboros) SNAKE

The magic weapon- A symbol of the hero’s extraordinary quality. No other can use it to its full potential. Traditionally given by a mentor. Does not have be a weapon per se. Moses used a staff, Perseus winged sandals and Medusa’s head. THE MAGIC WEAPON Arthur pulls the sword from the stone, not because he is stronger than others, but because of his good qualities and righteousness Examples

Red—love, sacrifice, hate, evil, anger, violent passion, sin, blood, disorder (The Village) Green—birth / death, fertility, luck, hope, jealousy, decay, greed moviemovie Blue—sadness, spiritual purity (think water and baptism here), truth, religious feelings of security Black—power, doom, death, darkness, mystery, primal wisdom, fertility, unconscious evil White—purity, innocence, death, terror, supernatural, blinding truth Yellow- enlightenment, knowledge COLORS

Circle (Sphere)—wholeness, unity Lion KingLion King Egg (Oval)—the mystery of life and the forces of regeneration Triangle: spiritual awareness. See the number 3 SHAPES

Dark-colored bird (raven, hawk)—death, messenger, The CrowThe Crow Light-colored bird (dove)—peace, love, life BIRDS

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! IN CONCLUSION

Three (3)—represents unity, spiritual awareness, and light Four (4)—cycle of life, (earth, water, fire, air) nature Seven (7)—unity between 3 and 4, completion and perfect order NUMBERS