Archetypes Found in Stories, Myths, Fiction, Movies, and Real Life

General Definition: The original pattern or model from which all copies are made; a prototype. In Psychology: An unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches. (Based on the ideas of Carl Jung.) In Literature: A plot line, character type, setting, symbol, or theme that comes up over in over myths and stories, throughout history. Examples: Brave Knight ** Cruel Queen ** Wicked Witch ** Wise King Deep, Dark Woods ** Isolated Tower ** Impenetrable Fortress Green=New Life ** Red=Passion ** White=Purity ** Etcetera… E

1. Overcoming the Monster 2. The Quest 3. Voyage and Return 4. Rags to Riches 5. Rebirth 6. Rebellion 7. Tragedy 8. Comedy 9. Mystery

The hero must face a terrible beast, who may be human or inhuman. Sometimes the monster is within the hero himself. Harry Potter Frankenstein “The Avengers” “The Dark Knight”

This story is an account of the main character’s attempts to achieve a specific goal. The Odyssey The Lord of the Rings “Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”

The protagonist voyages to another world, where he or she makes a transformation before returning. Alice in Wonderland “Spirited Away” The Wizard of Oz “Inception” (?)

The transformation from poverty to wealth can be material (going from poor to rich) or personal (going from unsuccessful to successful, from ugly to beautiful, etc.) This story usually starts out sad and ends happily. Harry Potter Cinderella “The Princess Diaries” “School of Rock” The Ugly Duckling

The story of a transformation that often includes a phase of “living death,” where the protagonist appears to be defeated. The story usually ends with the transformation of the protagonist. Sleeping Beauty A Christmas Carol Beauty and the Beast “Avatar” A Little Princess The Very Hungry Caterpillar

A solitary hero or heroine fights a powerful force that completely controls his or her reality Divergent The Hunger Games “The Matrix”

The story of a tragic hero caught in difficult circumstances. (Ttragic hero: a person who seems to have it all, but has at least one major personality flaw which brings him/her down). Tragedies generally start happily, but end with misery and death. Shakespearean tragedies (Halmlet, Macbeth, etc.) Greek Tragedies (Oedipus Rex, Antigone, etc.) “Titanic”

Often starts with an absurdly complex set of circumstances; characters must go to extreme lengths to resolve the conflict(s). Romance often happens along the way. “Elf” “Napoleon Dynamite” “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” As You Like It A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Begins with a riddle, which is gradually unraveled by the central character. TV Crime Shows (“Law and Order”, etc.) “The Bourne Identity” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

The Nine Basic Plots are present in myths and fairy tales, novels, short stories, TV shows, movies…and in real life. Many stories weave together several of the Basic Plots. It’s rare to have just one. Virtually every meaningful story in Western culture contains at least one of the Nine Basic Plots. E