ArchetypesArchetypes

English I English I

Archetypes in literature An image, story-pattern or character Recurs frequently Evokes strong, often unconscious,

associations in the reader Examples:

The wicked witch The enchanted prince The sleeping beauty The fairy godmother

Situation ArchetypesSituation Archetypes

The QuestThe Quest

The search for someone or some talisman The search for someone or some talisman (an object held to act as a charm to avert (an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune) which, when evil and bring good fortune) which, when found and brought back, will restore found and brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted land.fertility to a wasted land.

The TaskThe Task

To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, to identify himself so he may resume his to identify himself so he may resume his rightful positionrightful position

The hero must perform some nearly The hero must perform some nearly superhuman deedsuperhuman deed

The InitiationThe Initiation

Into the adult-lifeInto the adult-lifeThe adolescent comes to his or her The adolescent comes to his or her

maturity with new awareness and maturity with new awareness and problems along with the hope for the problems along with the hope for the community or landcommunity or land

This awakening is often the climax of the This awakening is often the climax of the storystory

The JourneyThe Journey

Sends the hero in search of the truth or Sends the hero in search of the truth or information to restore fertility to the information to restore fertility to the kingdomkingdom

Travels through a psychological hell and Travels through a psychological hell and forced to discover the truth forced to discover the truth

Must recognize his own faultsMust recognize his own faultsAccepts personal responsibilityAccepts personal responsibilityEncounters people and tasks that teach Encounters people and tasks that teach

and strengthen himand strengthen him

The FallThe Fall

The heroThe hero’’s loss of innocence or high s loss of innocence or high positionposition

Hubris often causes the fall and humility Hubris often causes the fall and humility results from itresults from it

Death and RebirthDeath and Rebirth

The most common of all situationsThe most common of all situationsDeveloped through the parallel between Developed through the parallel between

the cycle of the nature and the cycle of lifethe cycle of the nature and the cycle of lifeMorning and springtime represent birth, Morning and springtime represent birth,

youth and rebirthyouth and rebirthWinter represents old age or deathWinter represents old age or death

Nature vs. Mechanical WorldNature vs. Mechanical World

Suggests that nature is good while Suggests that nature is good while technology and society or often eviltechnology and society or often evil

Battle between Good and EvilBattle between Good and Evil

Battle between two prime forcesBattle between two prime forcesMankind shows eternal optimism Mankind shows eternal optimism Good triumphs over evil despite great Good triumphs over evil despite great

oddsodds

The Unhealable WoundThe Unhealable Wound

Physical or psychologicalPhysical or psychologicalCannot be fully healedCannot be fully healed Indicates a loss of innocenceIndicates a loss of innocenceAlways aches and drives the sufferer to Always aches and drives the sufferer to

desperate measuresdesperate measures

The RitualThe Ritual

Ceremonies that initiate experiences that Ceremonies that initiate experiences that will mark the passage into another statewill mark the passage into another state

The Magic WeaponThe Magic Weapon

Symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the Symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the hero because no one else can wield the hero because no one else can wield the weapon or use it to its full potentialweapon or use it to its full potential

Usually given by a mentor figureUsually given by a mentor figure

Symbolic ArchetypesSymbolic Archetypes

Associations between the outside world and Associations between the outside world and psychic experiences. These associations psychic experiences. These associations

become enduring and are passed from one become enduring and are passed from one generation to the next.generation to the next.

Light vs. DarkLight vs. Dark

Light suggests hope, renewal or Light suggests hope, renewal or intellectual illuminationintellectual illumination

Darkness implies the unknown, ignorance Darkness implies the unknown, ignorance or despairor despair

Fire vs. IceFire vs. Ice

Fire represents knowledge, light, life and Fire represents knowledge, light, life and rebirthrebirth

Ice represents ignorance, darkness, Ice represents ignorance, darkness, sterility and even deathsterility and even death

Supernatural InterventionSupernatural Intervention

The gods intervene on the side of the hero The gods intervene on the side of the hero most of the timemost of the time

Water vs. DesertWater vs. Desert

Water represents growth, rebirth, life and Water represents growth, rebirth, life and spiritual birthspiritual birth

Desert represents a time of self-Desert represents a time of self-awareness, deprivation, solitude and awareness, deprivation, solitude and lonelinessloneliness

Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Innate Wisdom vs. Educated StupidityStupidity

Sometimes characters exhibit an Sometimes characters exhibit an understanding of situations because of understanding of situations because of their instincts better than those who are their instincts better than those who are educated to do the job or be in chargeeducated to do the job or be in charge

Heaven vs. HellHeaven vs. Hell

Man associates parts of the world not Man associates parts of the world not accessible to him as dwelling places of accessible to him as dwelling places of those who govern his worldthose who govern his world

The skies and mountain tops house his The skies and mountain tops house his godsgods

The bowels of the earth contain his The bowels of the earth contain his diabolical forcesdiabolical forces

Symbolic Archetypes - PlacesSymbolic Archetypes - Places

The Threshold The Threshold - - Gateway to a new world the hero must enter to change and grow

The Underworld The Underworld - - The encounter with the dark side of the self; fear of death

The Garden - State of innocence and reconciliation; a place of peace and harmony with nature

Symbolic Archetypes - PlacesSymbolic Archetypes - Places

The Wasteland The Wasteland - - Represents infertility, death of inspiration, hopelessness; usually the product of industrial technology and spiritual deprivation

The City The City - - norms, law, order and civilization; represents corruption and hypocrisy

Symbolic Archetypes - PlacesSymbolic Archetypes - Places

The Crossroads The Crossroads - - This is the place where a decision must be made by the hero.

The Winding Stairs The Winding Stairs - - This represents a dangerous way to the unknown.

The Castle - holds treasure or a princess, may be enchanted or bewitched

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

The HeroThe Hero

Characterized by self-sacrificeCharacterized by self-sacrificeWill endure separation and hardship for Will endure separation and hardship for

the sake of his peoplethe sake of his peopleMust pay a price to attain his goalMust pay a price to attain his goalPattern of journey is often fight, flight, Pattern of journey is often fight, flight,

learn, returnlearn, return

The Young Man from the ProvincesThe Young Man from the Provinces

This hero is spirited away as a young man This hero is spirited away as a young man and is raised by strangersand is raised by strangers

He later returns to his home where he is a He later returns to his home where he is a stranger who can see problems and offer stranger who can see problems and offer solutionssolutions

The MentorThe Mentor

Counselors or teachersCounselors or teachersOlder and wiserOlder and wiserGives the hero weapons, food, magic and Gives the hero weapons, food, magic and

often serves as the herooften serves as the hero’’s consciences conscience

The ShadowThe Shadow

Worthy opponent with whom the hero Worthy opponent with whom the hero must strugglemust struggle

This opponent must be destroyed, This opponent must be destroyed, neutralized, or assimilatedneutralized, or assimilated

Father-Son ConflictFather-Son Conflict

Tension often results from separation Tension often results from separation during childhood during childhood

Tension is significant as the individuals Tension is significant as the individuals meet as menmeet as men

The mentor often has a higher place in the The mentor often has a higher place in the affections the hero than the biological affections the hero than the biological parentparent

Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers

Like servants who are heroic themselvesLike servants who are heroic themselvesTheir duty is to protect the hero and reflect Their duty is to protect the hero and reflect

his nobilityhis nobility

The Threshold GuardianThe Threshold Guardian

Tests the heroTests the hero’’s courage and worthiness s courage and worthiness to begin the journeyto begin the journey

Shows that the journey will be difficultShows that the journey will be difficult

Friendly BeastFriendly Beast

Shows that nature is on the side of the Shows that nature is on the side of the herohero

The InitiatesThe Initiates

Young heroes who, prior to their quest, Young heroes who, prior to their quest, must endure some training or ceremonymust endure some training or ceremony

They are usually innocent and dressed in They are usually innocent and dressed in whitewhite

Group of CompanionsGroup of Companions

Loyal companions willing to face any Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to stay togethernumber of perils in order to stay together

The Devil FigureThe Devil Figure

Character that offers worldly goods, fame Character that offers worldly goods, fame or knowledge to the protagonist (hero) in or knowledge to the protagonist (hero) in exchange for the possession of the soulexchange for the possession of the soul

Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good HeartHeart

A redeemable devil figure that is saved by A redeemable devil figure that is saved by the nobility or love of the herothe nobility or love of the hero

The ScapegoatThe Scapegoat

This hero must die in order to pay for the This hero must die in order to pay for the peoplepeople’’s wrongdoings and to restore the s wrongdoings and to restore the nation to healthnation to health

The death is publicThe death is publicMakes them more of a force in society in Makes them more of a force in society in

death than when they liveddeath than when they lived

The OutcastThe Outcast

Figure who is banished form a social Figure who is banished form a social group for some crimegroup for some crime

The crime can be real or imaginedThe crime can be real or imaginedDestined to become a wanderer from Destined to become a wanderer from

place to placeplace to place

Woman FiguresWoman Figures

The Earth Mother The Earth Mother - - The protector of good, the home and the family; associated with warmth, security, growth and fertility

The Temptress - Characterized by her sensuous beauty, this woman is one to whom the protagonist has a physical attraction.

Woman FiguresWoman Figures

The Platonic Ideal The Platonic Ideal - - This woman is a source of inspiration and spiritual ideal for whom the protagonist has an intellectual rather than a physical attraction to

The Unfaithful Wife - A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant and is attracted to a more virile interesting man

Woman FiguresWoman Figures

The Damsel in Distress The Damsel in Distress - - The venerable woman who must be rescued by the hero; she is often used at a trap to lure the unsuspecting hero

The Star-Crossed Lovers - Two characters who are engaged in a love affair that is fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends or family

The Creature of NightmareThe Creature of Nightmare

A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest part of the human psyche to threaten the life of the hero

Color Archetypes Color Archetypes Violet-Violet- nostalgia, memory, advanced spiritualityGold – sun, wealth, corn (life dependency), truthSilver – Moon, wealth Black – chaos, mystery, death, evil, unconsciousBlack – chaos, mystery, death, evil, unconsciousRed – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder (tragedy)Red – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder (tragedy)Green – growth, sensation, hope (comedy), wealthGreen – growth, sensation, hope (comedy), wealthEarth tones – natural, pure, conscious or earthlyEarth tones – natural, pure, conscious or earthlyWhite – purity or voidWhite – purity or voidBlue – tranquility (depression)Blue – tranquility (depression)Yellow – cowardice, dishonestyYellow – cowardice, dishonestyPurple – royalty, nobility, spiritualityPurple – royalty, nobility, spiritualityOrange – adventure, change, danger loomingOrange – adventure, change, danger looming

Shape ArchetypesShape Archetypes

• Oval – woman, passivity • Triangle – between heaven and earth, fire,

3, return to origins, sight• Square – pluralism, earth, stability, 4 • Rectangle – the most rational, most secure • Cross – Tree of life, axis of the world,

struggle, martyrdom• Circle – Heaven, sun, 2, unity, perfection,

eternity

Spiral – the evolution of the universe, growth

Nature ArchetypesNature Archetypes Air – creativity, freedom (liberty), movement Earth – passive, feminine, receptive, solid Fire – transform, love, life, health, passion, spiritual

energy, regeneration Lake – mystery, depth, unconscious Crescent moon – change, transition Mountain – height, center of the world, ambition/goals Valley – depression, low-points, evil, unknown Stars – guidance Rain – life giver Forest – evil, lost, fear Lightning – intuition, inspiration Tree – life, knowledge

Number ArchetypesNumber ArchetypesThree – the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy

Ghost); Mind, Body, Spirit; Birth, Life, Death

Four – Mankind (four limbs), four elements, four seasons

Six – devil, evil Seven – Divinity (3) + Mankind (4) =

relationship between man and God, seven deadly sins, days of week, days to create the world, stages of civilization, colors of the rainbow