1. Situational Archetypes
Storytelling for
Survival and Hope

2. Why do we need stories?
To explain natural phenomenon such as great floods and the creation of the world
To answer such questions such as why we are born and why we die
To help us escape reality by entering a world where the good guy wins, the forces of evil are defeated, and love conquers all
To help define the roles of good and evil such as the hero and the villain so that we might recognize them in reality

3. Recognizing Archetypes

4. Recognizing Archetypes

5. Recognizing Archetypes

6. The Ritual Actual ceremonies Marks a rite of passage
Ex: Wedding or funeral
“The Princess Bride”

7. The Task Hero/Heroine must perform some nearly superhuman deed
Must do in order to resume their rightful position as hero
Ex: Win the fair lady or save the kingdom
“The Goonies”

8. The Journey
Send hero/heroine in search of info or some intellectual truth
Hero/heroine must leave their community for the purpose of isolating them in order to bring back the necessary info to the people.
“Monty Python & the Holy Grail”

9. The Fall A descent from a higher to a lower state of being
Experience involves spiritual defilement and/or loss of innocence or happiness
“Star Wars: Episode III”

10. The Initiation Usually adolescent coming into adulthood
Encounters problems and responsibilities that are involved in this process
“There’s Something About Mary”

11. The Unhealable Wound Wound is either physical or psychological
Cannot be fully healed
Indicates a loss of innocence
Wounds always ache and drive the sufferer to desperate measures.
“Troy”

12. Battle between Good & Evil
Usually illustrates the battle between two primal forces
”Lord of the Rings”

13. Nature vs. the Mechanistic World
Nature is good while technology & society are often evil
“i, robot”

14. Your Archetype Story Homework (if you don’t finish)
Write a story that includes a minimum of:
2 character archetypes
1 situational archetype
All elements of plot
Length requirement = one full page (I recommend typing as it will save you time later)
Do not skip lines
Due next class
PS. Telling a story that is not your own creative idea is plagiarism and will result in zero points!

15. SHREK Archetypes
HERO—Shrek…literally doing superhuman deeds ( fighting fire breathing dragon)
QUEST—to find and rescue Princess Fiona
TASK—to get his swamp back from the fairy creatures
HUNTING GROUP OF COMPANIONS—Donkey is there to make Shrek’s humanity come out and show that he is not just an ogre at heart
FRIENDLY BEAST—Donkey
DAMSEL IN DISTRESS—Princess Fiona in the highest tower
HEAVEN VS. HELL—glowing embers and fire are shown to be the habitat of the dragon.
LIGHT VS. DARKNESS—the castle is dark to represent evil; Fiona is first seen in a ray of light; as soon as they escape, they emerge into daytime since they have escaped evil

16. SHREK Archetypes
DEATH AND REBIRTH—when they escape the dragon, morning is dawning suggesting hope and rebirth
BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL—Shrek and Donkey vs the Dragon
STAR-CROSSED LOVERS—Dragons and Donkeys aren’t supposed to be together
EVIL FIGURE WITH A GOOD HEART—Dragon appears at first as an Evil Figure, especially with the remains of the knights, but Donkey saves her and converts her to good
CREATURE OF NIGHTMARE—Dragon before she falls in love with Donkey
THE JOURNEY—Shrek and Donkey face their fears and conquer the dragon, finding Fiona to accomplish their task