Archetypes Pre AP English I

What is an archetype?  An original model after which other similar things are patterned  From the Greek word arkhetupos meaning “exemplary”  Exemplary: serving as a pattern, deserving imitation  Accepts Karl Jung’s idea of recurring patterns of situation, character or symbol  It exists universally and instinctively in the collective unconscious of man

Archetypes in literature  An image, story-pattern or character  Recurs frequently  Evokes strong, often unconscious, associations in the reader  Examples: The wicked witch The enchanted prince The sleeping beauty The fairy godmother

Personal Unconscious/ Freud  Said that personal experiences that have been forgotten or repressed, yet linger in the personal unconscious mind tend to motivate, shape and control our behavior

Collective Unconscious/ Jung  Experiences of humanity as a whole somehow are embedded into the minds of everyone  Is a mixture of experiences of humanity and of archetypes make up our “genetic memory” or “racial memory”  Basic foundation of the collective unconscious is the archetype (the universal theme, symbol, situation) that runs consistent in the minds of mankind  Has developed through the ages and influences the way people think  Can be found in man’s endeavors of art, mythology, literature and dreams

Situation Archetypes

The Quest The search for someone or some talisman (an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune) which, when found and brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted land. The search for someone or some talisman (an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune) which, when found and brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted land.

The Task To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, to identify himself so he may resume his rightful position To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, to identify himself so he may resume his rightful position The hero must perform some nearly superhuman deed The hero must perform some nearly superhuman deed

The Initiation Into the adult-life Into the adult-life The adolescent comes to his or her maturity with new awareness and problems along with the hope for the community or land The adolescent comes to his or her maturity with new awareness and problems along with the hope for the community or land This awakening is often the climax of the story This awakening is often the climax of the story

The Journey Sends the hero in search of the truth or information to restore fertility to the kingdom Sends the hero in search of the truth or information to restore fertility to the kingdom Travels through a psychological hell and forced to discover the truth Travels through a psychological hell and forced to discover the truth Must recognize his own faults Must recognize his own faults Accepts personal responsibility Accepts personal responsibility Encounters people and tasks that teach and strengthen him Encounters people and tasks that teach and strengthen him

The Fall The hero’s loss of innocence or high position The hero’s loss of innocence or high position Hubris often causes the fall and humility results from it Hubris often causes the fall and humility results from it

Death and Rebirth The most common of all situations The most common of all situations Developed through the parallel between the cycle of the nature and the cycle of life Developed through the parallel between the cycle of the nature and the cycle of life Morning and springtime represent birth, youth and rebirth Morning and springtime represent birth, youth and rebirth Winter represents old age or death Winter represents old age or death

Nature vs. Mechanical World Suggests that nature is good while technology and society or often evil Suggests that nature is good while technology and society or often evil

Battle between Good and Evil Battle between two prime forces Battle between two prime forces Mankind shows eternal optimism Mankind shows eternal optimism Good triumphs over evil despite great odds Good triumphs over evil despite great odds

The Unhealable Wound Physical or psychological Physical or psychological Cannot be fully healed Cannot be fully healed Indicates a loss of innocence Indicates a loss of innocence Always aches and drives the sufferer to desperate measures Always aches and drives the sufferer to desperate measures

The Ritual Ceremonies that initiate experiences that will mark the passage into another state Ceremonies that initiate experiences that will mark the passage into another state

The Magic Weapon Symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the hero because no one else can wield the weapon or use it to its full potential Symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the hero because no one else can wield the weapon or use it to its full potential Usually given by a mentor figure Usually given by a mentor figure

Symbolic Archetypes Associations between the outside world and psychic experiences. These associations become enduring and are passed from one generation to the next.

Light vs. Dark Light suggests hope, renewal or intellectual illumination Light suggests hope, renewal or intellectual illumination Darkness implies the unknown, ignorance or despair Darkness implies the unknown, ignorance or despair

Fire vs. Ice Fire represents knowledge, light, life and rebirth Fire represents knowledge, light, life and rebirth Ice represents ignorance, darkness, sterility and even death Ice represents ignorance, darkness, sterility and even death

Supernatural Intervention The gods intervene on the side of the hero most of the time The gods intervene on the side of the hero most of the time

Water vs. Desert Water represents growth, rebirth, life and spiritual birth Water represents growth, rebirth, life and spiritual birth Desert represents a time of self- awareness, deprivation, solitude and loneliness Desert represents a time of self- awareness, deprivation, solitude and loneliness

Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity Sometimes characters exhibit an understanding of situations because of their instincts better than those who are educated to do the job or be in charge Sometimes characters exhibit an understanding of situations because of their instincts better than those who are educated to do the job or be in charge

Heaven vs. Hell Man associates parts of the world not accessible to him as dwelling places of those who govern his world Man associates parts of the world not accessible to him as dwelling places of those who govern his world The skies and mountain tops house his gods The skies and mountain tops house his gods The bowels of the earth contain his diabolical forces The bowels of the earth contain his diabolical forces

Symbolic Archetypes - Places The Threshold - The Threshold - Gateway to a new world the hero must enter to change and grow The Underworld - The Underworld - The encounter with the dark side of the self; fear of death The Garden - State of innocence and reconciliation; a place of peace and harmony with nature

Symbolic Archetypes - Places The Wasteland - The Wasteland - Represents infertility, death of inspiration, hopelessness; usually the product of industrial technology and spiritual deprivation The City - The City - norms, law, order and civilization; represents corruption and hypocrisy

Symbolic Archetypes - Places The Crossroads - The Crossroads - This is the place where a decision must be made by the hero. The Winding Stairs - The Winding Stairs - This represents a dangerous way to the unknown. The Castle - holds treasure or a princess, may be enchanted or bewitched

Character Archetypes

The Hero Characterized by self-sacrifice Characterized by self-sacrifice Will endure separation and hardship for the sake of his people Will endure separation and hardship for the sake of his people Must pay a price to attain his goal Must pay a price to attain his goal Pattern of journey is often fight, flight, learn, return Pattern of journey is often fight, flight, learn, return

The Young Man from the Provinces This hero is spirited away as a young man and is raised by strangers This hero is spirited away as a young man and is raised by strangers He later returns to his home where he is a stranger who can see problems and offer solutions He later returns to his home where he is a stranger who can see problems and offer solutions

The Mentor Counselors or teachers Counselors or teachers Older and wiser Older and wiser Gives the hero weapons, food, magic and often serves as the hero’s conscience Gives the hero weapons, food, magic and often serves as the hero’s conscience

The Shadow Worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle Worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle This opponent must be destroyed, neutralized, or assimilated This opponent must be destroyed, neutralized, or assimilated

Father-Son Conflict Tension often results from separation during childhood Tension often results from separation during childhood Tension is significant as the individuals meet as men Tension is significant as the individuals meet as men The mentor often has a higher place in the affections the hero than the biological parent The mentor often has a higher place in the affections the hero than the biological parent

Loyal Retainers Like servants who are heroic themselves Like servants who are heroic themselves Their duty is to protect the hero and reflect his nobility Their duty is to protect the hero and reflect his nobility

The Threshold Guardian Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin the journey Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin the journey Shows that the journey will be difficult Shows that the journey will be difficult

Friendly Beast Shows that nature is on the side of the hero Shows that nature is on the side of the hero

The Initiates Young heroes who, prior to their quest, must endure some training or ceremony Young heroes who, prior to their quest, must endure some training or ceremony They are usually innocent and dressed in white They are usually innocent and dressed in white

Group of Companions Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to stay together Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to stay together

The Devil Figure Character that offers worldly goods, fame or knowledge to the protagonist (hero) in exchange for the possession of the soul Character that offers worldly goods, fame or knowledge to the protagonist (hero) in exchange for the possession of the soul

Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good Heart A redeemable devil figure that is saved by the nobility or love of the hero A redeemable devil figure that is saved by the nobility or love of the hero

The Scapegoat This hero must die in order to pay for the people’s wrongdoings and to restore the nation to health This hero must die in order to pay for the people’s wrongdoings and to restore the nation to health The death is public The death is public Makes them more of a force in society after their death than they were when they lived Makes them more of a force in society after their death than they were when they lived

The Outcast Figure who is banished form a social group for some crime Figure who is banished form a social group for some crime The crime can be real or imagined The crime can be real or imagined Destined to become a wanderer from place to place Destined to become a wanderer from place to place

Woman Figures The Earth Mother - The Earth Mother - The protector of good, the home and the family; associated with warmth, security, growth and fertility The Temptress - Characterized by her sensuous beauty, this woman is one to whom the protagonist has a physical attraction.

Woman Figures The Platonic Ideal - The Platonic Ideal - This woman is a source of inspiration and spiritual ideal for whom the protagonist has an intellectual rather than a physical attraction to The Unfaithful Wife - A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant and is attracted to a more virile interesting man

Woman Figures The Damsel in Distress - The Damsel in Distress - The venerable woman who must be rescued by the hero; she is often used at a trap to lure the unsuspecting hero The Star-Crossed Lovers - Two characters who are engaged in a love affair that is fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends or family

The Creature of Nightmare A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest part of the human psyche to threaten the life of the hero

Color Archetypes Color Archetypes Black – chaos, mystery, death, evil, unconscious Black – chaos, mystery, death, evil, unconscious Red – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder (tragedy) Red – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder (tragedy) Green – growth, sensation, hope (comedy), wealth Green – growth, sensation, hope (comedy), wealth Earth tones – natural, pure, conscious or earthly Earth tones – natural, pure, conscious or earthly White – purity or void White – purity or void Blue – tranquility (depression) Blue – tranquility (depression) Yellow – cowardice, dishonesty Yellow – cowardice, dishonesty Purple – royalty, nobility, spirituality Purple – royalty, nobility, spirituality Orange – adventure, change, danger looming Orange – adventure, change, danger looming