1. The patterns of storytelling
Archetypes
The patterns of storytelling

2. What Are Archetypes?
Archetypes are reoccurring patterns of situations, characters, or symbols existing universally and instinctively among different cultures.
Three types: Situational, Thematic, Character

3. Why? Fathers of modern psychology: Freud and Jung
Noticed reoccurring patterns in stories and determined that they were representative of the human psyche
While that’s not necessarily true, the accuracy of the simularities sticks with literature

4. Quest
Search for someone or something which when brought back will restore health to the people or land

5. Task
What a hero must do to save the land, win the fair lady, prove one’s rightful place

6. Initiation
Rite of passage to signify adulthood

7. Journey
A hero goes in search of truth or information to save people or land; they descend into a real or psychological hell to discover the truth

8. Fall
Descent from a high to low state of being which involves a loss of innocence; often characters are rejected.

9. Death and Rebirth
Common to show the duality of the cycle of life and death, spring and winter

10. Nature vs. Mechanistic World
Natural order or nature is good; technology separates people from nature and is bad

11. Battle between Good and Evil
Future of the world at stake as the two opposing forces battle

12. The Unhealable Wound
Either real or psychological that they can never truly heal

13. The Ritual
Ceremony that marks a rite of passage

14. The Magic Weapon
Symbolizes extraordinary quality of the hero, no one else can wield the weapon

15. Light vs. Darkness
Light usually means hope and renewal, while darkness is ignorance and despair

16. Water vs. Desert
Water is birth or cleansing, while desert is a place of exile

17. Heaven vs. Hell
Skies and mountains belong to the gods; the bowels and pits of the world hide evil

18. Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity
Instinctive intelligence v. book- learned ignorance
Street smarts vs. book smarts

19. Haven vs. Wilderness
Places of safety vs. dangerous wild places

20. Supernatural Intervention
Gods intervene to help the hero

21. Fire vs. Ice
Fire is light, rebirth, knowledge; ice is darkness, ignorance and death

22. Hero Some of the following must be present in the life of a hero:
Mother is virginal
An attempt is made on mother/child’s life
Raised by foster parents
Proves self and becomes a leader
Falls from favor with the gods
Becomes outcast
Upon death, body is dealt with improperly

23. Young Person from the Provinces
Hero leaves kingdom and raised by strangers, later returns and saves kingdom

24. Herald
Calls hero to action
Can be a person, event or action

25. The Initiate
Hero goes through training

26. Mentor/Pupil Relationship
Teaches student how to survive the quest/task

27. Parent/Child Conflict
Usually results from early separation of hero from parent
Closer attachment to mentor

28. Hunting Group of Companions
Band of loyal friends willing to battle together to achieve a common goal

29. Loyal Retainers
Servants dedicated to the success of the hero

30. The Devil Figure
Character is evil incarnate; offers worldly goods for the heroes soul

31. Evil Figure with an Ultimately Good Heart
Saved by the love of the hero

32. The Outcast
Figure banished from society for a crime (real or imagined); wanders from place to place

33. Creature of Nightmare
Horrible monster that threatens the life of the hero and is a perversion of the human body

34. Earth Mother
Spiritual and emotional health

35. The Temptress
Brings about the downfall of the hero

36. The Platonic Ideal
Inspires, smart but no sex appeal

37. The Damsel in Distress
Vulneurable, needs to be saved, trapped by devil figure

38. The Star Crossed Lovers
Love affair fated to end tragically