Archetypes

Archetypal analysis of a work is one of the most common forms of literary analysis. It is easy to understand and use with a little knowledge of the basics. First of all, an archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. That is, it is a universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that these archetypes were the result of a collective unconscious. This collective unconscious was not directly knowable and is a product of the shared experiences of our ancestors.

Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters, situations/symbols.

Characters: The Seven Archetypes

Hero "The Hero is the protagonist or central character, whose primary purpose is to separate from the ordinary world and sacrifice himself for the service of the Journey at hand - to answer the challenge, complete the quest and restore the Ordinary World's balance. We experience the Journey through the eyes of the Hero."

Hero – The entire story revolves around Simba who is set apart from the beginning of the movie for a greater purpose. He is chosen at birth to become great and completes his journey to become king and defeat Scar in the end.

Mentor "The Mentor provides motivation, insights and training to help the Hero."

Mentor – Mufasa prepares Simba to be the hero by teaching him who he is meant to be. He trains him to hunt and shows him the importance of being king.

Threshold Guardian "Threshold Guardians protect the Special World and its secrets from the Hero, and provide essential tests to prove a Hero's commitment and worth."

Threshold Guardian – Before Simba can embark on his adventure home, he must speak with Rafiki who inspires and reminds him to be who he was meant to be.

Herald "Herald characters issue challenges and announce the coming of significant change. They can make their appearance anytime during a Journey, but often appear at the beginning of the Journey to announce a Call to Adventure. A character may wear the Herald's mask to make an announcement or judgment, report a news flash, or simply deliver a message."

Herald – Nala can be viewed as a herald by finding Simba and telling him that if he does not come home soon the hyenas will take over the Pridelands. She calls him to his adventure.

Shapeshifter "The Shapeshifter's mask misleads the Hero by hiding a character's intentions and loyalties."

Shapeshifter – Scar misleads Simba, the hero, by making him believe that Mufasa’s death is his fault.

Shadow "The Shadow can represent our darkest desires, our untapped resources, or even rejected qualities. It can also symbolize our greatest fears and phobias. Shadows may not be all bad, and may reveal admirable, even redeeming qualities. The Hero's enemies and villains often wear the Shadow mask. This physical force is determined to destroy the Hero and his cause."

The hyenas represent the Shadow in The Lion King because their entire goal is to take over the Pridelands with the help of Scar. The scene where they are all marching around practicing for the new reign of Scar illustrates this. They represent the dark desires of power and deception.

Trickster "Tricksters relish the disruption of the status quo, turning the Ordinary World into chaos with their quick turns of phrase and physical antics. Although they may not change during the course of their Journeys, their world and its inhabitants are transformed by their antics. The Trickster uses laughter [and ridicule] to make characters see the absurdity of the situation, and perhaps force a change."

Tricksters – Timon and Pumba use laughter and chaos to force change and help Simba grow up. Their joking is a reminder of who he is destined to be – King.

Situations/Symbols

The Task A situation in which a character, or group of characters, is driven to complete some duty of monstrous proportion.

Simba’s quest is to destroy Scar and reclaim his rightful place as king of the Pridelands.

The Quest Here, the character(s) are searching for something, whether consciously or unconsciously. Their actions, thoughts, and feelings center around the goal for completing this quest.

The quest – Simba may not know at first, but from the beginning his quest is to find himself and sense of purpose in become king of Prideland. When he does realize the importance of his quest, every decision and action he makes leads him to complete the journey.

The Loss of Innocence This is, as the name implies, a loss of innocence through sexual experience, violence, or any other means.

The Initiation This is the process by which a character is brought into another sphere of influence, usually (in literature) into adulthood.

Water Water is a symbol of life, cleansing, and rebirth. It is a strong life force, and is often depicted as a living, reasoning force.