1. Characters: Male The Wise Old Man The Hero
Archetypes
Characters: Male
The Wise Old Man
The Hero
Jennifer A. Bennett
Sanderson High School
Raleigh, North Carolina

2. The Wise Old Man Savior, redeemer, guru figure
Personification of the spiritual principle
Represents knowledge, reflection, insight, wisdom, cleverness and intuition
Also represents moral qualities such as goodwill, readiness to help, honesty & truth, loyalty,
The sagacious and helpful old man
Main role: to guide the hero

3. The Wise Old Man

4. The Hero Archetypes Archetypes of Transformation Redemption
The Hero’s Initiation
The Hero’s Quest
The Sacrificial Scapegoat

5. Hero’s Initiation
Initiation from ignorance and immaturity to social and spiritual maturity (rite of passage)
Three-fold process:
Separation—the hero literally separates (is removed from) his community/environment
Transformation—the majority of the plot where the hero grows in maturity, preparing him for the
Return—the hero literally goes back to his community, now spiritually and emotionally mature and able to contribute positively to society

6. Examples of Hero Initiation
The Lion King

7. Examples of Hero Initiation
Huck Finn
Ebeneezer Scrooge
The Prodigal Son
Finding Nemo—both Nemo and Marlin

8. Examples of Hero Initiation
Shrek
Ironman
Thor

9. The Sacrificial Scapegoat
The hero upon whom the welfare of the tribe or nation relies
Must die—
to atone for the people’s sins
to restore the land to fruitfulness
Examples:
Jesus
Aslan

10. The Sacrificial Scapegoat
William Wallace (Braveheart)

11. The Sacrificial Scapegoat
Maximus
Harry Potter

12. The Sacrificial Scapegoat
Gandalf
Sommersby

13. The Sacrificial Scapegoat
Harry Stamper (Armageddon)

14. The Hero’s Quest Undertakes a long journey
Has an important goal to achieve
Must perform impossible tasks and overcome insurmountable obstacles
Is often a savior/ deliverer figure—he saves the day

15. Other Archetypal Motifs
Creation
Myth—a story both necessary and credible which articulates into a significant whole all the disparate and discrete experiences of life; a fundamental and unifying force in life; does not necessarily refer to falsehood)
Genesis
Gilgamesh
Native American myths
Immortality
Battle of Good vs. Evil