1. An Introduction to Literary Archetypes

2. Key Intellectual Figures: From Freud to Campbell
Carl “I Don’t Look Very”Jung (psychiatrist and philosopher):
Joseph Campbell (mythologist, author, lecturer, professor)
Sigmund Freud (AKA “The Father of Psychology”):

3. Freud was the first person to offer a systematic method of studying the unconscious mind. Below is a chart of the human psyche according to Freud:
“…the ego represents what may be called reason and common sense….” In other words, the ego is the mediator between the id and super-ego.
“…the super-ego retains the … influence of authority…in the form of conscience or perhaps of an unconscious sense of guilt…” The super-ego censors or controls our desires. Id
Superego
Ego
“…the id is the dark, inaccessible part of our personality… striving to bring about the satisfaction of the instinctual needs….” The id represents our unconscious desires, instinctual needs and drives.

4. Jung’s Revises Freud’s Concept of the Psyche:
Collective Unconscious
Anima/Animus
Shadow
Subconscious Memories
Persona
Ego
You’ll find that the most important part of this diagram as it relates to archetypes is the collective unconscious.

5. Explaining Jung’s Psyche:
Consciousness
The Ego = our true outer selves; consciousness
The Persona = the person we present ourselves as to conceal our true natures; the “mask” we show the world
Collective Unconscious
Anima/Animus
Shadow
Subconscious Memories
Persona
Ego

6. Explaining Jung’s Psyche:
Personal Unconsciousness
Subconscious Memories = suppressed and forgotten memories
The Shadow =
consists of repressed animal instincts (vulgar, shameful or corrupt parts of the personality)
The Anima = feminine side of personality; emotional, creative and artistic forces
The Animus = masculine side of personality; reason, strength and intellect
(Anima/Animus is our true inner selves as opposed to our persona)
Collective Unconscious
Anima/Animus
Shadow
Subconscious Memories
Persona
Ego

7. Collective Unconsciousness
Explaining Jung’s Psyche:
Collective Unconsciousness
The subconscious awareness of human experiences that predates the individual--our species shares this knowledge
Collective Unconscious
Anima/Animus
Shadow
Subconscious Memories
Persona
Ego

8. Why the Collective Unconsciousness is Important:
The primary pieces of knowledge we share as part of our collective unconscious are called ARCHETYPES! This is why we see the same symbols and characters and situations in the literature from all over the world.

9. Archetypal Symbols…
Just think about how many stories you’ve read that use flowers as symbols of beauty and hope…
From:

10. Archetypal Characters…
Or an evil figure with an ultimately good heart…
From:

11. Archetypal Situations…
How could you forget the archetypal Hero’s journey which I wrote about so extensively in my 1949 book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces? I know you wrote a whole essay about it in the 9th grade!
From:
From:

12. Therefore, we can learn more about humanity and authors’ specific purposes through the study of literary archetypes!