1. Journal #29: Archetypes & Motifs
Learning Targets:
Students will be able to identify the difference between a symbol and a motif and consider its impact on a work of literature.
Students will be able to list common archetypes.
Students will be able to define archetype and consider its impact on a work of literature.

2. Symbol and Motif: What’s the difference?
A reoccurring object in literature that figuratively represents another idea or thing and is almost always related to the theme.
A reoccurring object in literature that figuratively represents another idea or thing and is almost always related to the theme.

3. Some of the things we’ve thought were symbols, in past novels, were actually motifs!!

4. Some of the things we’ve thought were symbols, in past novels, were actually motifs!!
Writing Poetry
Women sitting by the window:
Esperanza’s grandmother
Mamacita dreaming of home
Esperanza and 4 Skinny Trees
Rafeala drinking papaya juice
Minerva sitting by a broken window

5. Some of the things we’ve thought were symbols, in past novels, were actually motifs!!
The golden carp
The Virgin of Guadalupe
Ultima’s owl
Dreams:
Antonio’s dreams
Water:
The river
Holy Water
The presence of the river
The underground lake
The Marez family

6. Discuss with a partner to create a hypothesis: What’s the difference between a symbol and a motif?

7. Definitions Symbol Motif
A specific and static reoccurring object in literature that figuratively represents another idea or thing and is almost always related to the theme.
A reoccurring object, literary devices**, or plot structure** in literature that figuratively represents another idea or, always related to the theme or the author’s purpose.
Motifs appear in different contexts (i.e. water appearing in different ways) or be dynamic
Motifs can be reoccurring literary devices

8. Three different types of Motifs: Reoccurring Dynamic Objects
A (1) reoccurring object, (2) literary device**, or (3) plot structure** in literature that figuratively represents another idea or thing, always related to the theme or the author’s purpose.
Motifs appear in different contexts (i.e. water appearing in different ways) or be dynamic
Motifs can be reoccurring literary devices
Three different types of Motifs:
Reoccurring Dynamic Objects
Literary Devices
Plot Structures

9. 1. Reoccurring Dynamic Objects (symbolic motifs)
What are the different types of water in Bless Me, Ultima? How many?

11. 2. Repetition of Literary/Language Devices
Slaughterhouse Five is a satirical anti-war novel about a man who is ‘stuck in time’ and keeps ending up at the bombing of Dresden during WWII.
The phrase “So it goes.” appears 99 times over the 105 page novel.
Look at your page with random pieces of Slaughterhouse Five: How does Kurt Vonnegut use the motif of “So it goes.” to build his anti-war message?
Let’s write a thesis!

13. 2. Repetition of Literary/Language Devices Example: Characterization of Horse
“’Bullshit!’ Horse cried out. They called him Horse because his face looked like the face of a horse, and he was always stomping at the ground.” (Anaya 36).
“Horse neighed loudly. ‘Hey, Florence, top this one!’ Again he cleared his throat and spit.” (Anaya 37).
“His dark, wild eyes held me hypnotically, and I could hear the deep sounds a horse makes inside his chest when he is ready to buck.” (Anaya 39).
“That year a pissing contest was held behind the school house, and Horse won,” (Anaya 76).

14. 2. Repetition of Literary/Language Devices Example: Characterization of Horse
“Horse's … I thought he would bolt. His big horse-eyes looked up at me nervously.” (Anaya 155). “Horse smiled into my face. … His horse-eyes were wild with excitement and his big, yellow teeth chomped on something that smelled like spoiled eggs.” (Anaya 202). “Horse whinnied and reared up and Bones was on him” (Anaya 195). “Horse, sensing something he could not understand, began to get nervous.” (Anaya 209).

15. 3. Repetition of Plot Structures
People confessing to Antonio:
Lupito
Narciso
The boys
“Cures”: each cure is different but represents the juxtaposition between Ultima’s power and the Church’s
Chapter Seis
Chapter Diez
Chapter Viente
Antonio running from/towards death:
Luptio
Narcisco
Chapter Vientedos
Antonio’s Dreams

16. Archetypes

17. What are the similarities of these characters?

18. What are the similarities of these characters?

19. What are the similarities between these stories?

20. Thinking Questions Write down and answer each question:
Why do so many stories share a similar plot?
Why do so many different characters in stories fit into a type like ‘sidekick’ or ‘hero’ or ‘evil villain’?
How does culture shape this?

21. Archetypes Theory Definition
Archetypes are universal (1) motifs, (2) character types, and (3) plots that appear in literature, movies, oral tradition, myths, etc. across all time and all* cultures.

22. Plot (Situation) Archetypes
The Quest
The Fall (from high to low standing)
The Rebellion
Loss of Innocence
The Creation Story
The Initiation
The Task
Nature vs. the Mechanical World
Good vs. Evil
Coming-of-Age
The Unhealable Wound
Death and Rebirth
The Ritual
Cinderella (Rags-to-Riches)

23. Example: Cinderella (Rags to Riches)

24. Cinderella (Rags to Riches)

25. Cinderella (Rags to Riches) and Syncretism

26. Character Archetypes The Hero The Temptress The Mentor
The Reluctant Hero
The Sage
The Warrior
The Sidekick
The Star-Crossed Lovers
The Friendly Beast
The Bully
Evil Incarnate (The Dark Lord)
The Mad-Scientist
The Outcast
The Trickster
The Fallen Hero
The Initiates
The Damsel in Distress
The Scapegoat
The Betrayer
The Wanderer
The Unfaithful Lover
The Innocent One (pure soul)
The Earth Mother

27. Archetypal Motifs
Water: purification, cleansing, source of life and sustenance
Fire
Desert
Sunrise
Darkness
Being Dirty
Sun/ Stars/ Moon
Dreams
“Donning” of Armor
Colors:
Red: blood, anger, passion, violence
Gold: greatness, value, wealth
Green: fertility, luxury, growth
Blue: peace, serenity

28. Archetypes… So what? Why might archetypes matter?
Talk with a neighbor and be ready to share:
Why might archetypes matter?
How can archetypes help us understand literature?

29. Archetypes… So what?
Archetypes appear in stories from all cultures across all of recorded history. Psychologist Carl Jung suggested that this means that there are certain universal thinking patterns and understandings that are common among all peoples.
Jung hypothesized that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species, a sort of universal, primal memory. This posits that the stories we tell and characters who inhabit them are biologically predetermined?
It is the universal part of the definition that is
important

30. Task
With a partner create a poster for your assigned archetype(s) that:
Label the archetype
Provide a description
List 3 common examples
Has a colorful drawing
Fill in your chart and tape it into your notes when finished on others’ posters.

31. The Fall
The Mentor
B. These individuals serve as teachers or counselors to the initiate archetype. Serve as role-models or motherly figures often. They teach by example the skills necessary to survive the journey or quest archetypes. C. Dumbledore, Gandalf the Grey, Ultima
B. This describes a descent from a higher to lower state of being, an experience which might involve defilement, moral corruption, or loss of innocence. This fall is often accompanied by a punishment, such as an expulsion from paradise. C. Adam & Eve, Oedipus in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Lear in Shakespeare’s King Lear

32. Symbolizes: loss of innocence, poverty, loss
Motif: Being Dirty
Symbolizes: loss of innocence, poverty, loss

33. Task
Create a poster for your assigned archetype that includes the following information:
Label the archetype
Provide a description
List 3 common examples
Has a image
There will be links on Smith’s website for the information. Due Monday 3/5

34. Options for Posters Characters: Situations: Motifs: The Hero
The Betrayer
The Initiate
The Outcast
The Damsel in Distress
The Earthmother
Evil Incarnate
The Temptress
The Sidekick
The Star-Crossed Lovers
The Scapegoat
The Sage
Situations:
The Quest
The Unhealable Wound
The Task
The Initation
Motifs:
Water
Sunrise/Light

35. Adventure Time: “City of Thieves”

36. HW Thesis Purple = 1) Specific and 2) clear
On a separate piece of paper rewrite the thesis about water as an archetypal motif in Bless Me, Ultima.
Then color code your thesis:
Purple = 1) Specific and 2) clear
Green = 1) Arguable and 2) answering the question
Red = So what? and/or effect on Bless Me, Ultima and/or complex

37. Purple
Green
Red

38. Archetype/ archetypal Motif Water
1st Period
Purple
Green
Red
“Bless Me, Ultima”
Rudolfo Anaya
Archetype/ archetypal
Motif
Water
“water is an archetype for destruction”
“powerful and destructive”
“cleansing”
“symbolizes purity”
“water will destroy sinners according to the golden carp”
“allows Antonio to recognize/consider other powers besides the Catholic God”
“shape Antonio’s potential future”
“change the way Antonio’s”
“change the readers understanding of the book”
“create a sense of magical realism”

39. Purple Green Red “cleansing” “enemy” Purity “Represents…”
2nd Period
Purple
Green
Red
“Bless Me, Ultima”
“Water”
“Motif”
“archetypes” or “archetypal”
Rudolfo Anaya
“cleansing”
“enemy”
Purity
“Represents…”
“water is an archetype for destruction”
“reflects the way water is seen”
“effects Antonio because of the figurative water in his blood”
“Water occurs in many ways”
“change the readers understanding of the book”
“create a sense of magical realism”
“allows Antonio to recognize/consider other powers besides the Catholic God”

40. Purple Green Red “Bless Me, Ultima” “Antonio” Rudolfo Anaya Water
Archetype / Archetypal
Ultima
Motif
Sin
Symbolizes…
Purity
Cleanliness/cleansing/
Destruction
“leading to Antonio’s religious struggle”
“cleanse the town of its sins”
“illustrates Antonio’s loss of innocence”
“change the readers understanding of the book”
“create a sense of magical realism”
“allows Antonio to consider other powers besides the Catholic God”
3rd Period

41. Purple Green Red Motif Water Archetype / Archetypal Rudolfo Anaya
Bless Me, Ultima
Antonio
Purification / Purify
Death and Rebirth
“symbolizes…”
Life
Hope
Cleansing
Punishment
Sin
“change the readers understanding of the book”
“create a sense of magical realism”
“allows Antonio to recognize/consider other powers besides the Catholic God”
“Understand how certain scenarios playout”
5th Period

42. Evidence

43. Analysis– write 1 sentence of all 3 types
1. Explains concrete specific details (evidence) when they are unclear.
 DON’T RESTATE THE OBVIOUS.
2. Draws analytical conclusions about concrete specific details.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE TOO BIG OF LEAPS, however you are making leaps!
3. Draws connections from concrete specific details to both Body (paragraph) Thesis Statement and thesis.
CONNECTIONS SHOULD BE LOGICAL & WELL-DEVELOPED.
AVOID REPETITIVE CONNECTIVE COMMENTARY.